#PoetryFriday: Early Spring

Belted Kingfisher and Tulips, WIP, © 2019 Michelle Kogan, Watercolor and watercolor pencil

Happy Poetry Friday! I have Spring on my mind, hence I’m focusing on Spring poems and Spring Art. To all my friends in colder climates, wouldn’t you love some of these tulips popping up in your yard or deck, (or your pond…) so come on let’s all think SPRING!

Laura Purdie Salas is hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup this week on her blog: Laura Purdie Salas Writing The World For Kids  Thanks for hosting Laura! Laura has asked us to write an equation poem–she has a spank’n new book out that’s all about writing equations called SNOWMAN-COLD=PUDDLE Spring Equations, stop by and check it out, looks like an intriguing book!

INGREDIENTS FOR EARLY SPRING

Get some tulips–any kind
 the ones that are in your grocery store. 
    Pick a color that you like 
       Bring them home 
         Put them in a spot that gets light, 
           but not blinding light–

               Now look at them
                  Reeeally look at them
                      Study their contour edges
                        their deep rich colors as they 
                          come together between petal segments.

                                Admire their long stems that hold them up
                               their leaves that wrap around 
                              them like blankets.

                             If you have one’s exposing their bulbs
                            study them too. 
                           perhaps they’re wrapped in deep,
                          purplish, burnt sienna (reddish brown)
                        highlighted with a splash of orange    
                      perhaps they’ve shed their paper skin 
                    and are a lovely shade of jaune brilliant (cream color).

                And now for the crème de la crème
               Look at those luscious tendril roots 
             shooting off of their bulbs, all that growth
           stretching out into the atmosphere…

              When you go to sleep tonight, 
                   you might just dream about your tulips, or some tulips.          
                     Maybe these dreams will touch a 
                       wavelength with nature and, 
                      maybe it’ll bring us just a bit closer to spring.
                    Even if you don’t dream about them, 
                   think about all that goodness these tulips bring.

                   © 2019 Michelle Kogan

 

EARLY SPRING 
by Rainer Maria Rilke
Translated by Albert Ernest Flemming

Harshness vanished. A sudden softness

has replaced the meadows’ wintry grey.

Little rivulets of water changed

their singing accents. Tendernesses,

Read the rest of the poem here