At The Edge Of Spring Poem by Deanna Samuels

It was almost Spring like on the afternoon of 17th March
High winds of two days past had calmed to a gentle breeze
The sky, a brilliant clear blue without mar of cloud
Leafless trees barely swaying in the soft and friendlier wind
A week of low temperatures had slowly risen higher
Thawing the grey packed ice along curbside and path
The country drive across quieter roads at top of town
Revealed for first time this year, fields devoid of winter snow
Grass, a stubbled brown but hints of green seeping through
Roadside ditches wet and boggy, a few more days for drying out
Ponds and small lakes defrosting from crystalized ice
A thin layer of water quickening the breakdown of mottled surface
Cattle grazing lazily where firmer ground was found
Munching slowly, softening the tough stalks of old dried hay
A few horses freely galloping around the field
Happily stretching legs from winter stable need
A small flock of birds swooping and resting on naked tree boughs
Their crisp early chirping, refreshing after long winter away
A few older houses appeared at edge of bound town, yards tidy and neat
New developments next encountered, saplings not yet a year
Rows upon rows of sameness, without differential character
Maturity will come, though a decade would go by
Occasional large banks of hardened snow piled up along the way
The main town streets encroached, tidied and swept befitting such place
Almost at journeys end, duly arrived at planned destination
Felt elated and fulfilled to have witnessed a wide scope of early Spring
Plenty of nature's activity and wide panoramic vistas on this countryside ride

Written at Richmond Hill, Ontario - 17th March 2017