Ah, Wherefore Art Thou Hiding?

...so, the snow is mostly gone but it was below freezing this morning and the blue wind growls like a bully...

Then let thy verdant impulse overtake this umber sweep

Vile chords of chilling wind-song immerses blue, moody deep

And though we know for things worth waiting for, ah we must wait

Straining, we grasp at echoes of wisteria-laden gate

Springtime, springtime come lightly with warm kisses on thy breeze

How long must we be patient for thy fragrant melodies?

Spread wide thy frock of flowers and shake free thy gleaming tress

Fair maiden, lovely-laden, pray what hampers thy caress?

Didst thou forget thy way while winter pulverized his mat?

See, we stand with arms flung wide where meadow-lands lie flat

Springtime, springtime, do not linger behind a stricken stile

You are everybody’s darling and we miss your bonny smile

As the hart pants after water, sweet springtime, we pant for thee

Hunched long beneath our ragged optimistic misery

Yet spurred by recollection of lush orchard on green hill

Of fallow donning color where mute seed begins to spill

Springtime, springtime, ah, wherefore art thou hiding; in the dell?

Or hast thou simply lost thy way while winter bid farewell?

© Janet Martin