ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Promises of Spring

That moment when the daffodils appear beside the fence
and snowdrops bow their dainty nodding heads,
azaleas and rhododendrons blaze in grand display
whilst pansy faces wink from in their beds.
As clouds of blossom waft above and softly ride the breeze,
the hyacinths and jonquils scent the air,
and forests burst with bluebells in a carpet for our feet,
we cannot help but voice a grateful prayer.
As spring unlocks the flowers, it’s as if our breath is held -
anticipation, faith returns anew,
and sunshine makes us happy with its opportune return,
as once again it gently pushes through.

Those moments that remain forever treasured in our minds -
from joyful birds to busy, buzzing bees,
aromas like the new mown grass, the twilight’s longer hours,
and dancing lambs that never fail to please,
all take us back to childhood, with the wonders and delight
that complement this season like a song;
that feeling there is nothing on this Earth to mar our joy,
that nobody could ever do us wrong.
When everything seems possible as winter’s chased away
and nature’s glory seems to rule supreme.
“Here comes the sun!” we cry, and think
to keep this gift would be a perfect dream.

The whole world is a garden in a metaphoric way,
each heart fresh soil that’s turned, awaiting seeds.
The seasons change and so do we, and we can plant our own
to cultivate with hope no loss concedes.
This Eden of our spirit must be watched and tended well,
whilst choking weeds can firmly be removed,
no strangler vines allowed to thrive, no thistles granted space,
and well pruned traits can always be improved.
It must be nurtured daily with a patient, fixed resolve;
protection can be planned to shield from threat,
and loving hands must deal with every challenge that ensues,
avoiding many chances of regret.

Regardless of the icy winds of winter blown our way,
or falling leaves producing pensive sighs,
extremity of draining summer heat that slows us down,
this springtime goal should stay before our eyes.
For lying deep inside us in this haven of the soul,
despite the certain hardships, grief and pain
when different times in life bring worries, loneliness or loss,
we know this gentle sun will shine again.
Our care should be perennial, a never-ending quest
to reap rewards such gardens prove to bring,
and if we tend them wisely, we may find we can indeed
hold deep within, a never-ending spring.

© Catherine Lee, September 2023

Excellent Catherine

The thing about gardens and their springtime beauty in particular.
Is that it may be only fleeting, but we know that we can look forward with anticipation,
of a repeat performance again next year, a bit like some aspects of life at times, if you stop to think about it!

Terry

Exactly right, Terry - you are on my page! Thank you for this lovely feedback x

How lovely - took me back to my childhood in the UK - never see snowdrops in Queensland. You made very good use of the prompts as well Catherine.
Thank you for sharing this - it was quite delightful to read.

Ah, thanks so much, Maureen, I'm so glad you liked it. Yes, the snowdrops were always a first sign in NZ for me. Spring always brought such a special feeling xx

Absolutely beautiful Catherine, there are so many excellent, thought provoking lines in there that it is hard to pick one that is better than the rest!
Great to have the seasons and you had me in from that first line about the daffodils, as just the other day we visited Rydal (near Lithgow) to see the daffodil gardens there. Also a little bit of trivia I learned was that Rydal was named after Rydal in the lake district in Yorkshire which was William Wordsworth's home town, who of course, was so well known for his famous daffodils poem.
Loved your poem.
Cheers
Ron

Thank you so much, Ron, for this lovely warm feedback. I am envious of your visit to Rydal, as I absolutely love to see fields of daffodils and over the years have visited many, some where you could pick your own and others where there were spots you could sit in amongst them (utterly impossible for me to resist!) It’s interesting about Rydal, Australia, being named after Wordsworth’s home town. That particular poem of his has been a firm favourite of mine ever since childhood, and so has the flower itself. I’m delighted to hear you enjoyed the poem – thank you so much once again!
Cheers, Catherine

Catherine, you have more than captured the feel of spring in this wonderful poem. Its descriptive lines are accurate IMO and one easily can tell that these are things that you have personally seen or experienced... and have now taken the time to kindly present through your joyful writing.

Promises of Spring flows smoothly and gracefully and draws interesting parallels with ordinary life whereby one tends to one's own spirit and nurtures it, keeping it free of "weeds and strangler vines". Only yesterday I was in the back area (public land) wading into the tall grass and removing the strangler vines that were choking all the saplings while trying to keep an eye out for non-friendly snakes. A bit of a silly thing to do I think... especially in thongs. Only the previous week I carelessly stepped on a frill-necked lizard sunning itself and gave both of us a huge fright.

"The Eden of our spirit must be ...tended well"

Changing direction part way through by personalising the poem for the Reader and alluding to their own spirit is a clever way of retaining interest. Too many descriptive lines can be repetitive.

"and if we tend them wisely, we may find we can indeed
hold deep within, a never-ending spring."

This is a good ending.

Yes gardens are beautiful when well tended... and you bring them, and the season of spring, to life here.

A better title might have been The Spirit of Spring..?

To sit down and write this (initially inspired by Maureen's prompts) is quite remarkable, I think! You have the gift of being able to remember and then recreate nature's images skillfully in rhyming poetic form. Many try but few if any really succeed IMO.

Thank you again for taking the time to write and then share this lovely poem here.

It is certainly at least of the same high standard of your previous work... if not reaching even greater heights in select places in Promises of Spring. Gary.

Wow, thank you so much Gary, for such warm and detailed feedback! Yes, the season of spring certainly does evoke many fond memories. The first signs of this season were a delight to me from childhood, and the scent of some of these flowers I mention have stayed with me always.... At school there was an annual flower festival in September where we would compete with various floral arrangements such as a decorated boot, sand saucer, vase of flowers, etc., and I so much looked forward to this every year!... With the parallels of the garden of the spirit, I think you have a good point so I might well change the title to Spirit of Spring. Thank you once again – it is great to hear it flows smoothly in the reading, and I’m really pleased you enjoyed it…. Watch out for those lizards!

Ah, Catherine - you've done it again! A beautiful poem - and I love your metaphors!!

Cheers
Shelley