Hello, Spring

Butcherknife Creek - June, 2020

​It was yesterday that I said goodbye to the dark,
       the short days,
       the long cold nights,
the treacherous ice on early runs under stars piercing the frigid clear air.

I said goodbye to the extra quilt on the bed, to its squares of red, blue and rose,
       to double-down jackets, lined knit hats,
       to the cinnamon tea,
to the round cushion, my winter throne at the hearth. 

Today I said hello to the morning light,
       the later sunset,
       the new rush of water in the little creek bed,
to the earth at the side of the road, emerging disheveled from under months of snow.

I said hello to the lone bird trilling pretty notes from high in the aspen,
while Haven eagerly snuffled muddy brown turf, 
I said hello to the sun on my bare hands, to its warmth on Haven’s black fur.
Hello, Spring.

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