Nature's Reward

I planted bulbs in autumn And buried them real deep, Where they remained all winter, In hibernating sleep. They slipped my mind completely As leaves fell from the trees, And Nature brought her changes, To varying degrees. A wave of warmth descended To usher in the spring, Erasing winter’s palette, Replacing it with zing. And right where I’d been digging, The result of which I’d doubted, A burst of yellow let me know My daffodils had sprouted! Who knew back in October When I scooped that rock-filled soil That I’d reap a splash of color As the payment for my toil? Nature is mysterious, A trickster in disguise. It’s lovely when our efforts Are rewarded with a prize.