Sunday, March 20, 2011

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!


Spring has sprung, 
the sun has riz,
the grass is green
…and I'm glad I is!
——Bubba Shakespeare
                             Drivel Scribbler Extraordinaire 


Spring is here! Hip, hip, hooray! 

And you of little faith said we'd never get here! Ha! Got outsmarted by time and season again, didn't you? 

Yeah, I know…belief was tough back in February when snow and ice threatened to take over forever and bury us in winter. The power went out, roads were closed, and we had to huddle by the fireplace for several days with no Internet or cable. Couldn't even make a decent cup of cappuccino. Why, we were practically reduced to becoming Neanderthals—evolution in reverse. How could anyone possibly believe in spring's inevitability?

But come it did, just like always. The old earth spun its way merrily along the familiar path through the dark heavens. That 23.45 degrees of tilt began to work in our favor. The ice and snow melted. Temperatures climbed from single to double digits. February gave way to March. And once more, our little corner of the world began to reawaken from another long sleep.

The turkey vultures returned to their roost on the island across from the cottage. Robins started singing their morning song amid velvet dawns. Skunk cabbage stuck their mottled gnome-hat spathes up from the boggy muck, yellow crocus appeared along the stone wall, and bees somehow found their way to the blooms. Even the river seems to be burbling with excitement.

Is there any wonder more marvelous than spring's resurrection? 

Yes, officially speaking, if you insist on being a stickler for details, spring doesn't arrive hereabouts until approximately 7:30 p.m. when all the astronomical alignments are in their place and you can scientifically say the vernal equinox has passed. But I say spring is more a matter of the heart than of science. Like love, spring can never be quantified or reduced to a mere formula. Spring is deeper, more meaningful than a notation in an almanac or a few words at the bottom of a calendar's date box.

Spring is hope and faith and belief personified into reality. It's a journey fulfilled, a destination reached…a longing in the soul satisfied. No wonder birds sing so sweetly in the spring! 

What a wonderful day! Spring is here. And I'm so very grateful to bid it welcome!
———————  

    

18 comments:

Wanda..... said...

~♥~Spring~♥~

Julie Baumlisberger said...

HAPPY SPRING!!! Your poem reminded me of a variation I learned at school: "Spring has sprung, the grass is green, the bird is on the wing. My, oh, my, how absurd, I thought the wing was on the bird!"

I've been out walking all week, and all the telltale signs are there...the show's on for another season ;)

Grizz………… said...

Wanda…

You betcha! I love spring, too!

Grizz………… said...

Julie…

I'm going to work in the yard awhile, then go out gimping if it doesn't rain.

In the 8th grade English class, I once got threatened with a paddling by Mr. Landis for a similar bit of poetic drivel I stood up and recited:

Spring has sprung,
Fall has fell,
Summer's here,
and it's hotter than
……………usual.

What really got him was that a few weeks earlier I'd disrupted the class with another fine recited-aloud ditty:

Spider, spider, on the wall,
Ain't you got no sense at all?
Don't you know that wall is plastered?
Get off the wall you dirty
………………spider!

The man simply had no appreciation for the comedic pause…

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ-

Happy Spring - Happy Sunday - and Happy Birthday to my son born March 21st 8:38 a.m. :-)
Love to you this glorious day
Gail
peace.....

The Weaver of Grass said...

And the ubiquitous dandelion is here to prove it. Oh how beautiful they are and what a pity they are regarded as weeds - they are such prolific bloomers. Happy Spring equinox to both you and your lady love.

Julie Baumlisberger said...

So you would probably enjoy:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses
And all the king's men
Had scrambled eggs for breakfast again!

Enjoy your spring day, my friendly scribe!

Bernie said...

Belief has not arrived here yet Grizz....we are having snow and high winds right now...errrr!
Enjoy your fine weather my friend, I love knowing my friends are seeing green grass and flowers always.....:-)Hugs

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

We've been working outside since mid-morning and just finished up with a late lunch break. The predicted rain has not arrived, in fact, it's now mostly sunny…so we're going take another whack at raking and cleaning up winter's clutter. Might even get the job finished. Either way, it's a great way to enjoy this first day of spring.

Take care, and happy spring to your and yours, including the birthday son.

Grizz………… said...

Weaver…

Thank you. I hope you'll have a nice spring, too.

You know, I never see a dandelion without thinking of how they taste. They're my favorite greens—and I've always loved greens of all sorts. In the next few weeks I hope pick a mess or two of dandelion greens and have them for dinner. One man's weed is another's favorite meal.

Grizz………… said...

Julie…

I do get a kick out of a lot of doggerel verse. Not doggerel, but a great line from Ogden Nash:

If called by a panther…don't anther.

Sill working in the yard, but enjoying my day.

Grizz………… said...

Bernie…

Keep the faith. Spring is moving northward and will get there before long. And when we're sweltering under a July sun, you'll be enjoying lovely cooler weather and be the envy of us all.

sage said...

Skunk cabbage is a neat plant! I just wrote about it and published photos...

Grace said...

Yes, it does seem as though spring is on its way! And spring truely is a matter of the heart. Spring as just a mention in the calendar goes by unnoticed, but all the little signs, now that is worth attention--something to be experienced.

Jain said...

Happy Spring, Grizz! We earned it!

Grizz………… said...

Sage…

One of my very favorites—partially because it's just so weird, and also because it appears here weeks before you allow yourself to think about spring.

I'll check out your post.

Grizz………… said...

Grace…

You're exactly right. Spring as an astronomical event doesn't mean much. No calendar or almanac ever dictate spring.

But spring as a season—a definite milepost on the seasonal journey—is my very favorite of natural events. I love spring best of all the seasons…and love has its wellspring in the heart.

Grizz………… said...

Jain…

We have indeed been down a scary, taxing, energy-sucking road recently, haven't we? I say we have both earned the right to enjoy spring just a notch more than those who didn't drop their token in the box and rode the bus for free.

BTW, I believe I still owe you a letter.
Hope things are going well.