Calendars Mislead

Calendars don't always know, for
Signs of spring are subtle.
I keep watch for the little things,
Part of spring's rebuttal
To the ruthlessness of winter,
Its cold and wind and storm.
I find them in the gentle breeze
That brings a touch of warm.

I see signs in a bit of green
That peeks through ice and snow,
And all the other subtleties
A gardener comes to know.
I'll soon be searching out my tools
For some early grooming;
Crying out with sheer delight at
Premature, bold blooming.

Some of the braver forerunners
To face the wintry foe
Will pave the way for later troops
Who put on springtime's show.
It's not the calendar's marked day
That tells us spring is here,
But rather that first small blossom
Emboldened to appear.

By: Joyce 2/17/04