Five on Friday: Spring's Poetry

And hope, if it had a scent,

would smell like spring, like rain

like something new and alive.

JENNIFER RUSH, Reborn

Oh, the waiting and the watching for spring to arrive. And then to feel the old sweet surprise and delight at the first shoots of green in a sea of earthy brown. Brave little crocuses open starry petals and smile at me. My heart swells like the burgeoning tree buds to witness their survival of another cold winter. 

Today's edition of Five on Friday bubbles with spring's new life and new hope. And for a little while pushes out of mind news that unsettles the soul and disturb our peace of mind. Walks on these fresh mornings, hearing the chickadees calling, watching the crows searching for possible nesting materials, encountering happy dogs out on their morning trots—it all puts things in perspective. Peacefulness settles. I breathe and gently sigh, in that moment all is well in my world. We carry on. 

One

Spring Senses

- Crocuses first appear this week in the front garden;

- Pussy willows have popped out on shrubs along the edge

of a partially frozen pond;

- Mallards quack overhead, no doubt wondering 'what's with the ice';

- Robins whistle from rooftops;

- The overnight rain creates a mist in the air and leaves puddles on the street;

- Crisp morning air contrasts with warming sunshine;

Spring is in the air.

Two

My Spring Reading Pile

Spring Anthology

edited by Melissa Harrison (Nature essays, 2016)

The Enchanted April

by Elizabeth von Arnim (fiction 1922)

Elizabeth and her German Garden

by Elizabeth von Arnim (fiction 1898)

The Secret Garden

by Frances Hodgson Burnett (children's fiction, 1911)

An Episode of Sparrows

by Rumer Godden (children's fiction, 1946)

Skylarks with Rosie, A Somerset Spring

by Stephen Moss (nature, 2021)

 

Leaning Toward Light, Poems for Gardens and the Hands that

Tend Them, edited by Tess Taylor (garden poetry anthology, 2023)

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady

by Edith Holden (nature diary, 1906)

Cultivated, The Elements of Floral Style

by Christin Geall (2020)

(explores floral design through the lens of art

history, ecology and personal narrative, beautiful photos)

 

Three

Birthday Treats This Week

As I mentioned last week, April is my birthday month and

I've been giving myself little treats or enjoying ones providentially

given either in nature or from family and friends. Here are a few

things I consider treats from the past week.

April 4

Caught the evening sunshine streaming through the

west windows for the first time since last fall. The earth

has turned its face back to the sun which sets later.

April 5

I love giving gifts. To me, it's like Christmas dreaming up

and wrapping presents for other people. I wrapped a little birthday

gift for my new niece (newly married to my nephew)

with hopeful anticipation that she will like it.

April 6

The tiny purple crocuses opened under

the oak tree. Our first sign of life in the garden!

Spotted a few kids at the park on our balmy evening walk.

They were swinging on the swings 'as high as an elephant's eye'.

Is there anything else quite as thrilling?

April 7

Met my lovely friend in the morning for coffee and a visit.

We first met at a church we both attended years ago. She's a busy mom

and we haven't seen each other in a while, but we picked up

where we left off, which is a sure sign of kindred hearts knit together.

Attended a piano concert with world-renowned pianist

Angela Hewitt. What a joy! She played some of my favourite

music Bach's Goldberg Variations. It was sublime.

The audience stood up as one at the end, clapping and

clapping and clapping. I slept so soundly that night.

April 8

The treat of a beautiful comment left on a blog post.

It's a real thrill for a blogger when her readers

leave comments in response to something she has written.

OTD, one woman wrote to say she has notebooks in her house

for writing out passages she wants to keep. And that she planned

to write out one of my recent guest posts, the whole thing, because

it meant so much to her (!) Let's just say, there is no thrill,

or honour, like it. I'm humbled.

April 9

It's twilight and the light is fading behind the trees

in the neighbour's yard, making them look like

filigree lace against the darkening sky. I savour

the moment, for a moment later, it was gone.

Early birthday presents from my two sisters and a

lovely visit over lunch with them and my mom.

April 10

Sipping a decaf latte in a pleasant coffee house-bakery

with friends on a sunny spring afternoon.

Rereading a well loved book The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson

Burnett, and watching Miss Mary Lennox change from a wan, spoiled,

and unhappy child into a little girl with rosy cheeks who finds joy in

a skipping rope and watching spring arrive on the Yorkshire moors.

April 11

As I'm finishing this post, I hear the early morning whistle of

the chipping sparrow. I am elated. The first of the season.

Welcome, welcome, my fine feathered friend! Happy Spring!

Four

Strawberry Cup & Saucer

I was shopping at the book store the other day. As is wont, bookstores

sell, along with the books, many other beguiling home items.

New seasonal displays were up for Mother's Day. And

I spotted this strawberry themed cup and saucer, then saw the tea

towels with the same pattern. It made me feel quite giddy with happiness.

It is something of treat to find something new for the home, for the soul.

I happily sipped my first cup of coffee from it yesterday morning.

On Wednesday I had the happy delight to give my sisters and mom

each a beautifully boxed cup and saucer of the same design. Now

we can think of each other as we sip from our own cups.

Five

Quotes that Feel Like Spring

Some of you are walking love letters

and you don't even realize it.

You're lighting up rooms, shifting atmospheres,

and carrying inspiration just being you.

Such a precious gift.

DAWNA DE SILVA, as seen on social media

If "Plan A" didn't work,

the alphabet has 25 more letters.

Stay cool.

@TEACHERGOALS, Instagram

Sometimes I need only to

stand wherever I am

to be blessed.

Attributed to MARY OLIVER

I can't afford to hate anyone.

I don't have that kind of time.

AKIRA KUROSAWA

That's a beautiful life you have there.

Thanks, I made it! It has pockets

for all my treasures.

UNKNOWN, Instagram

❦

On that note, I'm wishing you a beautiful day,

Brenda

Photo credits:

Top Photo by Fietzfotos from Pixabay

Photos One, Two, Four by Brenda Leyland @ It's A Beautiful Life

Photo Three by LoggaWiggler from Pixabay 

Photo Five from Pixabay

My Blogging Schedule:

I post on Fridays