Did You Notice the Swollen Bud

. No one knows when it appeared. I noticed it last week— a small rust colored swelling at the tip of a thin branch. Today it wears a crown of snow, an inch of frozen crystals arrived overnight, glorified in its elevated position. It made me stop. Stop to admire spring's bud in the middle of winter on a frozen day. The sidewalk was cleared by the lady and her machine without disturbing what lay above. The sparrows stay close to the feeders on days like this, leaving the bud in its dormant state alone. Perhaps a gust of wind will remove its crown before a warm spell. But the bud rests like a wise athlete, waiting for the right moment to release sequestered energy. Waiting without complaint or need of assistance for equinox’s signal and spring’s arrival. Giving hope to those who notice.