An Etheree on the Arrival of Spring

Welcome to Poetry Friday, this week hosted by Laura Purdie Salas Here. Thank you, Laura, for hosting.

I love watching the season transform. I’m sure I’m not alone. So, I appreciated the Poetry Sisters inviting all of us to write a poem this month, an etheree, on their ongoing theme for 2023, of transformation.

Who are the Poetry Sister’s? Find their names Here on a post by Mary Lee Hahn.

What is the poetry form called “ethheree?” This link has the info in case you aren’t familiar or you’d like a review.

Winter rallied, like a dying diva at the end of an opera, and re-established it’s hold on Central New York this week with the recent nor’easter storm on 3/14/23.

Central New York, outside my door 3/14/23, quiet and still.

But spring IS coming, because it’s what happens slowly in March in Central New York.

The day following the storm, March 15, winter seemed to be tip-toeing away as if it could escape notice.

March 15, 2023, the sound of dripping trees outside. 
TODAY, MARCH 15 

Change
happened,
winter-paced,
slow as hedgehogs.
Wind coaxed snow off trees.
Ice melted in sunlight.
I saw daffodils rally
deep in soil beneath last year’s leaves, 
(in my mind's eye, from experience)
to conjure yellow blossoms, about now. 

© Janice Scully 2023

The change of season and nature is a popular topic for poets, as one would expect. I opened THE COLLECTED POEMS OF WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS and discovered this short lovely poem. 

LOCUST TREE IN FLOWER
By William Carlos Williams 1935

Among
of
green

stiff
old
bright

broken
branch 
come

white 
sweet
May

again.

I think the word “again” at the end adds great impact. It does, it seems, because it underlies the miracle of the natural cycles here on earth. Spring happens again and again. The old and stiff branch bears flowers again.

Thank you for hosting, Laura Purdie Salas. Happy Spring!

14 thoughts on “An Etheree on the Arrival of Spring”

  4. Janice, sweet poem about the winter turning to spring, which is what happens! I love that we can count on it. Love these personified images in your poem.

    “Wind coaxed snow off trees.

    I saw daffodils rally

    to conjure yellow blossoms, about now.”

    William Carlos Williams’ poem is so short and perfect. I too like the word “again.”

  6. “winter-paced” says it all… doesn’t everything slow down in winter??
    And thank you for sharing the Williams poem. I so want there to be a key to unlock this mysterious order – and then I don’t. 🙂

  8. Janice, I really loved your poem! Especially the “(in my mind’s eye, from experience)” line– that captures the feeling of pending Spring for me so well! Thank you for sharing!

  10. I love that word, “again.” It ranks right up there with “yet.”

    We, too, have had some winter set-backs. We covered the newly-planted hellebores with boxes last night, and will again for three more nights of sub-freezing temperatures to come. Hopefully after that, spring will come…again!

  12. I always enjoy the slow pace of winter into spring, especially when there is some snow to watch transform. I agree, the “again” at the end of Williams’ poem says so much. Thank s for sharing.

  14. Like Sarah, I also like this line very much in your poem,
    “(in my mind’s eye, from experience)” ah yes, we have to wait a bit longer. Your poem beautifully describes this waiting game of transforming spring—Thanks also for the lovely poem by William Carlos Williams! I’m also eager to greet that,
    “white
    sweet
    May

    again.”

  15. Like Sarah, I also like this line very much in your poem,
    “(in my mind’s eye, from experience)” ah yes, we have to wait a bit longer. Your poem beautifully describes this waiting game of transforming spring—Thanks also for the lovely poem by William Carlos Williams! I’m also eager to greet that,
    “white
    sweet
    May

    again.”

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