Spring

Spring and the great reveal! Winter is now in full retreat, those darkest days of rain and sleet, the clouds will part, as if cut by knife, the sun warms the earth to beckon life I throw back the curtains in every room, to let in the rays and light the gloom, but then as I blink and my eyes adjust, I recoil with horror at all that dust! Spring cleaning is a chore I hate, but it must be done now, it can't be late, I mop and dust and polish with wax, I can't sit in the sun, no time to relax Now to the kitchen, where I cater, to remove the dust from the radiator, down the side of the oven, a treasure trove, a forgotten chip and a garlic clove Every room is brought up to muster, thanks to me and my big yellow duster, my muscles ache, my energy's sapped, my face is aglow, my hands are chapped I think I've finished, but no, wait, I glance outside beyond the garden gate, a rusty barbecue, and a lawn full of weeds, a fence that needs painting, and sprouting seeds Forgive me if I don't welcome this season, the work it brings is beyond all reason, I prefer the winter, the storms and the ice, curled up with a film and some chocolate that's nice! Cheryl Darby 2015