The First Sign of Spring

The ice crystals that glistened like diamonds throughout the winter months—December, January, February—slowly melted away and the crunchy green grass, now supple and bright, slowed to make way for the fall’s bulbs to send up shoots and bud. The tiny pink crocus shouts, “I’m here! I’m here! Notice me!” And, so I do. I stop and gently touch the lovely, fragile petals and wonder how they had survived since last September when I had buried them five inches into the topsoil. A crocus called out "I am alive, look at me!" Spring has surely come. TENTH PLACE WINNER Written March 9, 2021 for Springtime Haibun Contest Sponsored by M. L. Kiser