Quick Melt Poem by Deanna Samuels

Following months of frozen, piled-up snow
with a few times of false alarms of thaw,
the melt came swiftly and surely.
Some warmer days that reached plus one or two
began to ease the icy mounds,
quickened even more with some heavy rain
that in a two week span the wintry scene
had made a complete wardrobe change.

Whole lawns and flower beds appeared,
curbs were no bother to be crossed
and paved roads and paths became clear.
What became apparent on the scene,
last autumn's debris now uncovered with
soggy, congealed leaves congesting road drains
and garden plots weighed down with last
season's dead plants and autumn fall.

Taking advantage of a bonus warm sunny day,
uncovered trikes and decided to explore
the now unfrozen path behind the house.
Farewell Creek ran swiftly through the forest,
over-lapping banks and verges from recent rain
while newly formed riverlets flowed freely down hill
from high muddy mounds to reach ground level,
edging their way through small channels
that flowed into the fast-moving creek.

Winter had reaped its toll along the path.
All signs of last season's glorious wild growth gone,
only dry stalks, stubble and muddy patches left.
Deciduous trees appeared dark, wet and forlorn,
with bushes of what was left, short and stumpy.
Yes, winter has certainly taken its toll but nature
is resilient and soon, spring buds and shoots
will once again bring life back to current scene.


Written at Courtice, Ontario - 3rd April 2026