Priceless

A simple bouquet of flowers,

plastic-wrapped, propped up in a grocery-store bin,

$5.00 for the dozen.

Like a shimmering mirage

their colours stopped me in my tracks.

After a long Winter

and an even longer wait for Spring

to truly begin,

I was beginning to feel as if I

was trapped in a colourless desert.

I had no idea how much I needed them.

As usual,

it took my camera,

and my all-seeing macro lens,

To reveal the magnitude

of their magic and beauty.

$5.00 a dozen,

it seems incredible...

Because what these flowers have to offer is

- Priceless!

Oh Spring, Where Art Thou?

It appears Spring has been hijacked by Winter,

and is refusing to leave.

Fresh snow continues to fall

discouraging the tulips that have optimistically

poked their heads out of the cold, hard ground.

The forest remains bare-branched and empty.

The only things out to greet me on my walks

are last year's weathered flowers

And the joyous sound of birdsong welcoming

a Spring that has yet to arrive.

The sun assures us it is doing it's best

to move things along,

Casting the most lovely glow on anything

brave or hardy enough to make it through the winter.

And so I admire what fall has left behind;

A gift given once but appreciated twice.

"Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Yes, patience...

And so I will continue to admire

the longer days and (slightly) warmer temperatures.

While I wait for Spring to truly arrive.