Happy Poetry Friday
I’m trying to stay positive about the Chicago weather. It was glorious yesterday, and today, we’re back to almost winter like weather. It was pretty nippy while I painted outside. Which brings me to my poem for today, LION OR LAMB, how will march leave and April begin… I’m also sharing a spring poem by William Carlos Williams.
Carol, at her blog Carol’s Corner is hosting this weeks Poetry Friday Roundup, thanks Carol! She’s sharing a bevy of daffodils in poetry and images.
LION OR LAMB
Lion or lamb how will
March march out
and usher in April…
I’m yearning for the lamb
to shed my layers and feel
the warmth of the spring sun.
Underneath the winter mulched leaves
life’s sprouting out and reaching for the sun,
plants are calling, “uncover me…”
The plants seem to have a
handle on what’s happening,
they’re climbing out of their winter beds.
Yesterday the crocuses emerged…
The little one’s with white puffy petals
and two outwardly, arching green leaves.
The ever so tiny periwinkle blue crocus
has pushed through the ground and she’s
staging her determined time to open…
Helleborus is out, spring’s first rose,
she’s ready to open her petals
and demanding a winter-leaf-haircut.
daffodils, tulips, and peonies have
poked their tips out of the ground and
are inching up faster everyday.
The garter snakes are out–
Soaking in the sun, and sashaying along the sidewalks,
Holding their territorial spots with a flick of their tongue.
And our feathered friends,
are singing praises and sending us messages
for today, for tomorrow, remember nature.
Lion or lamb, what will it be–
I think the plants know, I’m sure the trees know–
Maybe they’ll let me know…
© 2019 Michelle Kogan
SPRING AND ALL: III [THE FARMER IN DEEP THOUGHT]
By William Carlos Williams
Read the rest of the poem here
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Your poem is lovely. My favorite stanza is:
The plants seem to have a
handle on what’s happening,
they’re climbing out of their winter beds.
I’m in central Illinois. We were blessed with 70 degrees today, but it’s supposed to be 20 degrees colder tomorrow. I’m hoping to see and feel many more 60 and 70 degree days soon!
Like Kimberly, we’ve had warm, no-sweater days, these past few, then rain & snow tonight! Yikes! But it will warm again & like your lovely spring poem, “they’re climbing out of their winter beds.” Love that thought, Michelle! Thanks for the beautiful words from William Carlos Williams, too!
Michelle, I love this. The specificity of each stanza. Perfect. I think my favorite is the periwinkle blue crocus. We are back to winter in Colorado today- gray, drizzly, maybe some snow. Ick.
Thanks Carol, hope all our weather inches up again in temps and that the sun shines on us and our gardens!
What a lovely pairing your poem makes with WCW, Michelle! Such contemplation, such noticing. Keep staying positive—it can’t be long now. 🙂
Such a delightful poem, Michelle. Love all your descriptions of the various flowers emerging. It’s fun to personify them, isn’t it? April is known for being fickle, but I think your hopeful words will coax warmer temps and blooms in due time.
Thanks Jama, here’s hoping the words will help. My daughter told me it’s always this cold, which is true but usually not this long a time–looking forward to more flowers opening up!
I like the garter snakes holding their territory with a flick of their tongue. Tells a whole story in that one line!
We were having weather like that for a while – one minute we were busting out the spring coats, and the next it what back to the parkas! It can be so frustrating to have spring so teasingly, temptingly close, but still have to wear gloves so your finger tips don’t freeze off. 😉
Michelle, we started out thinking March is heading for rolling out like a lamb but the chill is back again. The Long Island newspaper showed a lady riding a bike with a scarf around her neck (just to prove that we are not quite there yet. I like your thought, “winter-leaf-haircut” and think you could write another poem about that.
Nice way to welcome spring! (I noticed there are a lot of us eager for the season to get underway!) We’re starting to see birds we haven’t seen since last year, although the crocuses are taking a bit longer.