Just out of the airless hospital,
the world sparkles with spring.
An uncanny coincidence:
the solar eclipse occurs at that moment.
As we drive, we see peaceful groups
scattered about, gazing upward.
I breathe in nature again
as the new season awakens.
Two Great Blue Herons
fly low over the river.
One skulks around a pond, fishing,
stands stock still under tangled foliage,
harassed by a crow!
A beaver’s dam has appeared
almost overnight, a teepee of
loosely placed branches
at the river’s edge, built fast
but watertight, an engineering wonder.
Tiny colorful migrant warblers
contrast with the large wader,
juxtaposed on a grey day.
A haze of yellow-green
catches the eye; along with
the greening of beeches,and willows
at water’s edge.
The brush moves: a tiny rabbit emerges,
runs to me, then veers off.
The air is filled with chittering, as
a distinctive black and white warbler
makes its cameo appearance.
Yellow warblers add color to the scene,
brilliant daffodils mirroring their hue.
Hard buds of pond plants
open out into broad leaves.
Trees planted long ago
come into flower.
Droplets fall on my face
from a star magnolia bloom,
after a rain,
as I breathe in its
heady aroma.
Brilliant forsythias burst upward,
like vibrant hair gone wild.
Each petal is silken to the touch.
A wild turkey among geese,
its shape more slender, high steps
to the brush after crossing the road.
Geese are pairing off, loudly
protecting territory.
Two fly fast toward the car,
almost grazing it!
Some sip from a puddle
after a hard rain.
A vulture flies low over a city street,
its dihedral wingbeats just overhead,
close to treetops.
The sound of a mournful train
in the distance mirrors
the mourning dove’s call.
Trills of robins,
rosy tones of the house finch,
mating calls of kildeers,and the
pairing off of many species,
grace our early spring.
We hear the loud percussive
sound of a pileated woodpecker,
admire the nearby carpet of blue flowers
under a wide beech.
A seemingly dull grackle
shimmers iridescent,
blue and violet in the light.
A small tree is rich with blossoms,
against a backdrop of bare branches,
not yet awakened to the season.
Flowers begin to push up
through winter-weary ground.
Striated clouds deepen at dusk.
You’ve captured the moment so beautifully!
I can hear it, see it , smell it…ahhhhhh
Elsa, never ceases to amaze my senses, vividly and perfectly especially for the visual effect, I couldn’t describe this piece any better…….great!!
Beautiful poetic prose bringing the joys of nature. Another beautiful column, Elsa!
Beautifully brings nature to life. Love reading your column, Elsa!
Beautifully capturing Nature’s glory as only Elsa can with her rich vocabulary!
Thank you for sharing all the beauty around us!
Brilliant visual photograph and photograph in words!! Thank you!!