Spring Cleaning
Although still a chill in the air,
today is sunny and fair.
It's time for spring cleaning,
a gleaning - not a gleaming,
not inside
but outside.
Ornamental grasses are cut down.
Some strands will form a new bird nest round
as birds are seen flirt this afternoon.
Other birds heard singing a happy tune.
Songs make the most mundane chores
seem like fun, instead of a bore.
Entertained by their verse,
compost is dispersed.
Several wheelbarrow loads
are worked into the raised bed loam
where summer vegetables will grow
in rows marked out by the hoe.
Raking needs to be done
this afternoon under the sun.
A welcome surprise
under dead leaves lie.
Although absent of perfume,
there's pink hellebores in bloom!
Serenaded by papa cardinal
this afternoon, his distinctive call
causes one to look for him.
There - up high on a limb.
For sure his bright red feathers
brings cheer whatever the weather.
The wheelbarrow filled with dead leaves are added to the pile
of cut ornamental grasses to decompose after a while.
Now to add some greens
of weeds to this bin.
All organic matter will work its magic
and 2 years later dispersed by the shovel's flick.
After a week of rain
weeds, though always a pain,
pull out easily, a good thing,
as much needed spring cleaning
continues
under skies of blue.
A chill is being felt as the breeze
rearranges last fall's leaves.
Time to head inside
although much more work outside
waits to be done
when tomorrow comes.
It will take several afternoons
of spring cleaning as daffodils bloom,
forsythia mimics the sunshine,
bees in tulips and alliums dine,
newborns learn to sing a chorus of me-me-me
while I weed out the flower beds down on my knees.
In a few short weeks the grass will need to be mowed,
dandelions sowed by last year's wind will grow,
a trip to buy annuals to be planted,
the vegetable garden will be plowed then planted...
although gardening outside seems more fun,
be assured, spring cleaning is never done.
* * * * *
We can hardly wait for the long winter to be past
and to welcome the anticipated spring at last!
The barren land bursts into bloom
scenting the air with spring's perfume
as the greening grass daily grows
making more work to do, you know.
But what a joy to watch the miracle of spring!
Every day take time to look for there'll be something
that will thrill -
perhaps a trill
from visiting robin redbreast
when she takes a moment to rest.
Fat buds on the daffodils burst into little sunshines.
After a few warm days, spring flowering trees bloom so fine.
There seems to be more smiles
and fewer things that rile.
Perhaps this palette of spring colors
causes one to focus less on troubles.
Spring - when earth is renewed,
as one's spirit renews
when delight is revived
and one's hope is alive.
Do allow spring
to cause your heart to sing.
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus,
it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
Isaiah 35:1-2
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