Spring's Kindness - a Collaboration With Regina Mcintosh

Cascading off the winter chill leaving warmth wherever it traces the edge of the daffodil, tulip or crocus spring shines its brilliant rays across the windowpane that mirrors the friendly praise coloring the seals with such sweet appeal lavender lilacs wave through camouflage branches succeeding in meeting my gaze with a fulfillment that sustains and, again, chases away the cold that held winter there with me too long in a gasp for kindness that was so alive in the sunlight rays which trailed the mornings of March winds who rained down showers of healing waters feeding the tender sprigs of spring grass glorious and graceful as the newborn calf that often comes on the eve of a springtide day warming me with such delicious kindness eager for the days to grow longer and surer of the laughing flow from small streams and creeks breaking across gray stones, smooth as skin but hard rocks so old and wise they hasten to cast a shadow of deliverance to the one who listens to the voice colored in hues of compassion from laughing rivers who praise from their gurgling voices closing the door on winter and the icy chill makes me want to hug the air as I breathe deeply almost hungrily, for the precious melody of dust particles making music with rays of sunshine brightening the streams of life flittering to and fro amid the brilliant colors of rainbow pastels and soothing gold tones in hues that drift across the mountain ridges caressing the warm, azure promise of sky that sinks down through pearlescent clouds of snowy white to touch horizon’s bluegrass pastures where springy spring lambs dot the lands reflective of April skies - of the air - of the mind nostalgia of innocent youth stirred by their tender frolic 'neath the revelry of the sun stealing time from the moon as gold’s-shine dims silver’s-luster much to her chagrin and quickens the pulses of the dormant earth to beat like timpani drums in bursts of buds reborn perennials in seasoned resurrection rouse my being to rise to stretch and reach like a fern in fine fiddle-head form unfurling like a graceful frond released from the long night’s grip to catch the light of life my spirit evergreen - a fertile crescent cradling my humanity - grows with appreciation for Her burgeoning imagination - Nature the Maytime artiste fills me with wonderment at Her creations peacocks painted in wavelengths of sapphire and jade living gems in full-plume and wind-chimes fluted by breezy sylphs whisk me from fen to fell on musical swells thunderstorms sculpted from cumulus clouds lift exultation through layers of rumbled atmosphere and humbled consciousness as the rushing river’s laughter rises and inspires me to close my eyes and lean into the wind as I aspire to be the clay on the potter’s wheel shaped by the mercy of these gingham moments - while snowdrops reminisce of the season past the forsythia yellow-laden flaunts my joy colorful whims of the morrow still embryos in sepals yet to flower and bare the beauty of what’s to come dusty sunbeams jazz up dusky nooks through open windows welcoming the season of grass and up in pine tree pulpits tweet soprano-sweet sparrows who praise from their trilling voices Regina McIntosh and Susan Ashley (a collaboration) March 29, 2021 Poet’s note: My full-hearted thanks go out to you, Gina, for your lovely invitation to collaborate with you on this special Springtime piece. Your lush imagination, loving soul and talented pen are gifts that I greatly admire and treasure. It was my delight to unite with you in this graceful vision, as our two voices became one in poetry. Thank you, my inspiring friend, for our poetic fellowship, for the joy I felt during this creative experience and for allowing me to flow with your muse. *fen is a type of wetland or lowland and *fell is a naturally raised area of land, not as high or craggy as a mountain