Dear Spring

Contrasting colors of grass & shrub foliage are the harbingers of spring.

This poem by Charles Simic posted in the New York Times Style Magazine reminds me of why I love winter in the Bay Area.

Will you please hurry with your preparations?

We are freezing up north as you procrastinate

Like a rich lady with too many gorgeous outfits

To choose from, spending hours in front of

A mirror, trying them on and unable to decide,

While we trudge to the mailbox through wind

And snow, extract our unwilling fingers

From a glove to check if there's a letter

From you, or just a bitty postcard, saying:

I'm leaving Carolina today, hurrying your way

With my new wardrobe of flowers and birds.

The tease!  I bet she starts and forgets one of her

Hand-painted silk fans and has to go back,

While we stamp our feet and wipe our noses here,

Worrying the wood for the stove is running out,

The snow on the roof will bring the house down.

New leaves emerge on a Lace Leaf Japanese Maple