Just-spring

According to the BBC weather website,

we've had 30-40% less sunshine

than usual

in January and February.

I would say that it has felt 40% grayer;

yes, at least that.

Cheers for a day of "sunny intervals."

Cheers for snowdrops

and purple crocuses.

Is it purple prose to say

that English spring is paved with flowers?

Here comes the first wave.

At Welford Park,

the snowdrops are nearly as dense

as the drifts of snow

for which they are named.

I've been coming here every February

for years.  

And never, never has the sun shone.

It's usually quite a shivery experience,

cold hands and chapped cheeks,

but today we took tea outside.

The many visitors,

mostly old and young,

did mostly obey the dictates

to keep off the grass.

But there were a few rule-breakers.

Keen photographers will do anything

to capture their prey.

Wellies are an absolute must,

as the mud to grass ratio

(not to mention the temperature)

does not favor bare feet just yet.

I did hear this, though:

Mom, can I take off my coat?

It's still February, of course

and the sun is a big tease

because rain will be back tomorrow.

But just for today, it is Just-spring

and the world is not just muddy,

but mudluscious

For those who could not resist

fresh spring green

and the year's first warmth

there was one grassy verge.

I wonder which child

first had the notion

to roll down it?

I was almost tempted, too,

to try my forwards roll.

Long forgotten skills:

Let's dust them off

and bring them out

for spring.

In two more weeks

there will be an explosion of daffodils --

always a more reliable source of yellow

than the sun, in spring.