Snow Angels

FOR THE LOVE OF WINTER

a flash of red,

a shiny sled goes by

two brothers tumble off

with runny noses

and snow-covered hats, laughing

they jump to their feet

and race back up the hill

to take another run

(what fun!)

another streak of red, a flash of blue

(so cute, with rosy cheeks)

then shrieks—of delight—

impromptu snowball fight!

(and that's my cue...)

i sneak inside the house,

it won't be long

before they tramp inside with frozen toes

and shed their clothes:

four soggy mittens,

and two pairs of boots,

and snowpants, and jackets, and hats, and scarves,

in one great puddle

on the kitchen floor

i greet them at the door

with two big hugs

and two hot mugs

of cocoa to warm their cores

momma, ben put snow down my back,

says russ, with a chocolaty pout;

from ben, a devilish grin—

big brothers always win...

their happy chatter fills

the room with warmth,

my heart with joy;

each one is such a special boy

with ruddy faces and tousled hair

they melt my heart,

they light my soul

i wonder
if they know,

my angels

in the snow

Note: The typographic cloud graphic above (my "snow cloud," if you will) was created with a wonderful (but addictive) program called Wordle. The poem, by yours truly, harkens back to a snowy day—a very long time ago...

Ode to Purple Lilacs

NEW HAMPSHIRE'S STATE FLOWER


New Hampshire Natives
Who doesn't love the wonderfully fragrant bouquet of lilacs, wafting on the breezes across New Hampshire, in the month of May? Always one of my favorite flowers (so lacy and delicate, in varying shades of one of my favorite colors!), each spring I eagerly await the budding of the lilac bush outside our home, transplanted from a neighbor's yard—24 years ago—in celebration of our first home and the birth of our first son.

There's nothing quite like sitting out on the porch on a sunny day, and taking in that familiar fragrance carried on the warm spring breeze. My whole family looks forward to this small window of time (two weeks at most—and early this year!) when we can throw open the windows and let the heady fragrance in; we hack off a few glorious bunches for good measure, and bring them inside, allowing their luscious scent to seep from room to room. It's a comfort, and a reminder—of family, of home, and of childhood memories.

I'm a New Hampshire girl (born and raised and forever true). When I was young, we used to sing a happy song about NH and lilacs at summer camp, which captures the feeling perfectly:

I want to wake up, in the morning,
where the purple lilacs grow;
where the sun comes a peepin'
into where I'm a sleepin'
and the songbirds say, "hello!"

I want to wander, through the wild woods,
where the fragrant breezes blow,
and drift back, through New Hampshire,
where the purple lilacs grow.

I couldn't have put it better myself.

Winter, Fare Thee Well

WELCOME, SPRING!

Tired gray piles
of granular snow
sit slumped by the roadside
waiting to melt
in the warm noonday sun.

Beneath them
the slender
and varicose
leaves of crocus
tentatively, cautiously,
poke their heads up
through the soil.

With each day,
the piles recede
and the grasslike blades
grow taller.

Eventually
(finally!)
the snow does melt
and the crocus do
pop out
as if to say,

“Welcome, spring!”


I was inspired by April's being National Poetry Month, and by the crocus photos I took recently, and the unseasonably warm & sunny weather we've been having of late, to write and post this poem today.

Welcome, Spring

MY CROCUS ARE UP…

…and I saw a Robin the other day. Two telltale signs that spring has, indeed, arrived here in New Hampshire.* Since our neighbors across the way (those who live on "the sunny side of the street") already had daffodils in bloom while we still had two-foot snow piles, we had my son rake out the piles a bit, to help with the melting. And lo and behold! There were the crocus poking out to greet us—in all their purple and yellow glory.

First signs of spring

Now I am itching to get into my gardens, clean out the beds, divide some overgrown perennials, put out the ornaments, spread the mulch, plant the annuals...

On Monday morning, I raked and hauled leaves out of one half of one bed before the rain came. It was about all I could handle anyway, before being totally out of energy and breath (and having to get ready for work). At this rate, it's looking like it could take me a while to get them all ready for spring planting, but that's fine with me. It's the simple act of being out there, puttering about, that's the real joy of having a garden in the first place. So, welcome spring!

Oh, sunny day!

*I would be remiss not to add that winter is my favorite season and as much as I like playing in my garden, I, for one, am not happy to see the snow go. You see, I am an avid snowboarder and, even though it's spring on the Seacoast, there's still plenty of snow up on the slopes. Cannon got four inches last weekend and their season is still going strong. Plus, next weekend is the annual Reggae Fest at Sugarloaf (always a good time, mon!). So, even though I welcome spring on the one hand, I still say "let it snow!" :)