If Only I Could

If only I could shake off long rigorous winter; and embrace secret hidden in the cool of spring. Enlivened by nature; the twitter sound of the Scarlet Tanager, its red-orange and black feathers, the flame of spring. As the natural oak loses its yellowish-beige, worm-like male catkins dress everything in sight with its yellow pollen; leaving tiny female flowers for new growth on the limbs. If only I could see the Overwinter Oak Leaf Rollers green caterpillars that later turn into adult moths, feed and hang on silk thread from the leaves and branches then fall to the ground. Brown May beetles attracted to the light And wobble when they fly or walk. If only I could see the sunlight reft through sturdy limbs and myriad leaves of trees and shrubs and from somewhere hear the rapid clatter drumming sound of the harbinger of spring, of a single woodpecker. If only I could see the brilliant and stunning plumage colours of the blue Jay and the red cardinal and hear them sing their melodies so freely; feed on sweet pleasing berries, grown amid full foliage that have had soaked in the open warm radiant sun. If only I could shake off long rigorous winter; and embrace secret hidden in the cool of spring. 3/29/2023 Poetry Contest: 'This or That, Vol 17' Sponsored by: Edward Ibeh