Gaia

Spring. March fans it, April christens it, and May puts on its jacket and trousers. - Thoreau

ferociously roaring like a hungry lioness protecting her young

gusts kicking like a stubborn, ornery, old mule not wanting to be fitted for its shoes

a fickle season collecting its just dues

early spring rains on the march and ever advancing in an adolescent sky

useless to ask how, no need to ask why

filling the swollen ankles of a pregnant river

raising up dark, disregarded depths to episodic white crests

breaking the backs of aged, aching trees

their arthritic limbs brittle and ripe for the kindling

followed by days that are breach-born and spindling

'tis all water over the dam

sure as the, "baaaa, baaaa" of an innocent, vernal lamb

finessed times, like turning the key on a classic can of spam

thank you mother, than you ma'am

Author's Note

"They were pleasant spring days, in which the winter of man's discontent was thawing as well as the earth, and the life that had lain torpid began to stretch itself." - Thoreau

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

Dear Pete
yes, sometimes spring comes in like a roaring lion, shaking everything in its path as you so well describe here....gusty winds, slanted rain.... streams and lakes spilling over their banks....trees shaking their leaves to the ground..."breaking backs of aged trees"...I love your words that perfectly fit this strange and varied season....
Warmly, B

[Pete]

thanks for the nice share b. nature sure is powerful and majestic. long live her reign.

[Betty Hermelee]

Yes indeed! Loved it…you’re very welcome Pete..
Warmly, B

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we have had a lot of this so far this late Feb. and early March. already.
I wonder if we will still be here when spring has turned her head towards summer.
Magic, tumultuous, fierce are some words to describe this.
j.

[Pete]

transitional nature in all of her glory. if we're still here, which i fully expect, it will be a new season ... :)

[Im His Daughter]

This was absolutely amazing!!!! WELL DONE!!! Loved it!!!

[Pete]

thank you. so kind ... :)

[John the Baptist]

Indeed, the weather doesn't sound pleasant. On the other hand, you could be in northern California.

[Anita Frader]

This poem vividly describes the ferocity of nature in early spring, likening it to various animals and elements. It captures the unpredictable and transformative essence of the season, from roaring winds to swollen rivers, and reflects on the inevitability of change and gratitude towards nature's cycles. 💛

[Pete]

thanks so much for sharing the spot-on observations anita. you couldn't be more thorough and accurate ... :)

[Anita Frader]

You're welcome 😊

[Fabian G. Franklin]

A very descriptive piece. I enjoyed "swollen ankles of a pregnant river" as a concept for the flooding and the comparisons drawn in the poem. Nature gone wild. Great read.

[Pete]

yes, nature is very alive. thanks for sharing thoughts fgf ... :)

[Ken Simm.]

And long may she continue fighting. Excellent writing.
Nature is what keeps me going.

[Pete]

yes, i too adore nature. when she's done fighting, we're done ... :)

"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone." - thoreau

[Poetic Beauty]

The scenery in this poem is stunning. The way you describe the wind and an over flowing river bank is gorgeous. Thanking Mother Nature for the beauty and blessings she gives.

[Pete]

yes, thankful. i've always been fascinated by nature. it is alive. it intrigues and stirs me ... :)

[Poetic Beauty]

Nature is amazing with all its wonders and mysteries