Snowdrops

It seems that nearly everyone in the Northern Hemisphere

has had too much snow this winter

(except, perhaps, Vancouver).

In England,

February is a tug-of-war

between winter and spring.

All week long, we've had shafts of sunlight

playing peek-a-boo

with volleys of hail,

and flurries of snow,

and sheets of sleet.

Never mind the frigid temperatures,

spring will eventually get the upper hand.

Snow-like they may be,

but these galanthus

are the first bulbs out of the starting gate.

Autumn leaves,

it's your turn to sink into the earth.

So soon now, the gray of winter

will be replaced by spring green.

February is a pointillist painter,

adding a swathe of yellow aconites

to winter's monochrome palette.

Not the showiest flower,

it's true,

but so refreshing.