April Haiku 1
By Don Iannone

morning sun through trees
...young buds bursting wide open
......life sprouting anew

sun and shadows mix
...light frost on silver grass blades
......doves sing spring praises

wild turkeys gather
...fanned blue and green tail feathers
......life's magic unfolds

Celebrating the Rain that Washes Away the Snow

By Don Iannone

The rain came

and washed away fifteen inches

of unwelcomed April snow.

The earth rejoiced

when the rain fell

and washed away the snow

that covered its greening surface.

The birds sang out

at the sight of the rich dark earth

where the fallen daffodils

once stood tall and smiled in sunshine.

The cats in our front window

frisked and played in the fresh air

drifting through the bedroom window.

I jumped up and down

as the rain fell and washed away the snow.

Who knows...maybe I will run buck naked

out into the front yard

if the sun shines tomorrow

and the temperature hovers in the mid-70s.

From Spring Raindrops

By Don Iannone

Warm spring rain beats down upon us
with uncontrolled passion
throughout the industrious night.

Between raindrops

we heard the perky daffodils growing
along the near edge of the backyard.

Over night the gnarly crabapple
at the front corner of the house
burst wide open

with delicate green buds.

So much work accomplished
in the span of one short early spring night.
So much magic wrought upon the earth
by the rhythmic life-giving rain.

Soon our bald winter view

of the old cemetery nestled behind us will disappear
as the forest grows thick green
sealing us off until late fall.

And once again

life will overtake death

in the never-ending race to eternity.

Painting: Monet's Garden of Giverny

First Day of Spring 2007

The birds in the woods
...sing in spring voices
...as the fire-red melting sun readies
...for its daily departure.
They are happy voices--
filled with newfound glee
...causing us to drift off and dream
...of the potpourri of young wildflowers
...about to sprout along the trail to Buttermilk Falls.
Last night the skunks returned
...after the long winter
...for a late dinner of birdseed
...under the backyard feeders.
They know spring is nigh, and
we too are eager for first sightings
...of the bluebells, wild hyacinth and showy orchis.
Is it any wonder Monet found ecstasy
...in his favorite spring garden at Giverny?
Is it any wonder
...each of us turns artist in the springtime?

Changes Spring Forth at Winter's Edge
By Don Iannone

Almost there--
to spring that is.
While a heavy wet snow fell today
...winter knows by now
...that spring is inevitable, and
little can it do
...to discourage spring
...from taking center stage.
Once the crocuses have had
their chance to shine
...the daffodils will take the yard by storm.
And once the daffodils
have gone daffy
...the orange, red, and yellow tulips
will have their way--
until the hungry deer discover them
and mow them down.
So much change springs forth at winter's edge.

Betting on Spring
By Don Iannone

Snow fell hard and wet
on young crocuses trying their best
to make strong first impressions in life.
They sagged under the weight
of the slushy snow--
doing its best to leave
a strong lasting impressions
before spring closes the door
on winter's final act.
A nearby chirping robin,
ear cocked to the ground,
places his bet on spring.
I follow his lead and double the bet.

First Crocuses
By Don Iannone

First crocuses
...about to bloom
......sit and wait
.........for they know their time.

First crocuses
....test spring's water
......thin green fingers
.........reach toward blue sky.

First crocuses
...in no hurry
......watch robins race
..........and redbirds fly.

First crocuses
...listen for Beethoven
......then they know it's time
..........to give life a try.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Photo Credit: Rockwell Kent, American, Clover Fields, 1939–40

Spring Fantasies
By Don Iannone

Spring is coming
and everyone and everything knows it
in their heart.
After a long hard winter
the spring makes you want to tarry
for a while
and inhale its lingering perfume.
Just the simple thought of spring
on this early March Saturday morning
makes you want to loosen your hold
and plop down on your back
in the midst of a glorious sun-drenched cloverfield
and gaze without reason
at the fluffy white clouds
slowly drifting across a bright blue sky.

Signs of an Early Spring
By Don Iannone

Sunset lingering brunt orange
in steadfast February clouds, hovering
in azure sky, poised
to receive nothing less
than an early spring, quieted
by the lack of opposition from
a fast-moving winter, trundling
toward April, when
early wildflowers sing, and dance
their way through winter's final remains.