March SOL – Poems for Spring

For last year’s SOL March Challenge I wrote 31 poems about birds. This year, I’m challenging myself to write 31 poems about spring, my favorite season. I decided to give myself 31 spring poems for my 68th birthday, which is in April! Here I go!

Thank you to Stacey and the TWT staff for offering up this SOL March Challenge. This is my 3rd year, and I’ve enjoyed it immensely. I’ve learned so much and connected with so many wonderful people. I wish your a springtime of peace, joy, and beauty!

March 31, 2024

In Praise of Lily-of-the-Valley


As I walk through the valley
and darkness descends,
I am unafraid.
I continue to walk
through every shadow
that is cast before me.
Where there was once 
threatening clouds,
the sky has cleared.
Brightness leads my way,
and I walk on.
There, I find in the sunlight,
a field of lilies-of-the valley,
that stand before me in full bloom, 
deeply rooted, possessing great beauty.
I breathe their sweet fragrance
into my grateful heart.
I am changed,
I am unafraid,
I walk on.

March 30, 2024

Fire Flower

Watch me –
I am the fire,
I am the flame,
I am a tiger lily
Rising from the garden green.
I cannot be put out,
I cannot be put down,
I am the fire.
I am the flame,
I am the flower blossoming,
Mango-colored into the air
Like a wildfire, like a spark
Fierce and free-
Watch me!

March 29, 2024

Make Your Presence Known

The clouds make their presence known.
Swirling white and gray,
Ever-moving, shapeshifting,
Becoming new, changed.

The rain makes its presence known.
Solid, steady drops -
Gray, silver, glistening,
Soaking the earth, nourishing.

The sun makes its presence known.
Shy at first, hesitating -
Peeking behind great columns of clouds,
Finding her voice at last and shining.

The daisies make their presence known,
Steadfast open door to heaven,
Showing their sunny faces,
Pure perennial beauty.

The birds make their presence known,
Taking cover under the thickets
Until the rain slowly ceases, 
Then soaring with a song, into the air.

March 28, 2024

Spring Messenger

The tall, beautiful iris, 
named after the Greek goddess,
a beautiful young maiden 
with wings on her shoulders
who rode rainbows.
Iris traveled from cloud to sea,
connecting heaven and earth,
carrying messages from the gods.

White, yellow, deep purple, mauve pink,
Iris comes in many magical colors,
three outer petals hanging down,
three inner petals standing upright,
abundant, rugged, and reliable.
Carrying a sweet message
Spring has returned,
Courage, wisdom, and hope abide.

March 27, 2024

Where Youth and Old Age Dwell

In gardens, fields, and meadows
multicolored zinnias bloom,
favorites of butterflies and hummingbirds,
sweet nectar, cannot resist.

A beautiful New World flower,
yellow, orange, red and pale lilac petals.
The Navajo used the precious petals
to make bright yellow and red dye.

Legend tells of an ever-changing-woman
who gave yellow zinnias to a Navajo child
to help him protect the corn fields.
Zinnias now grow along with the corn.

In the center of the zinnia
 a new flower appears to be
blooming within an older one -
where youth and old age dwell.

March 26, 2024

Peonies

Tight fist of petals
punch through
lush leaves.
Pink-white jolts
through the green.
Slowly, so slowly
unfolding
petal by petal.
Trusting and opening,
spreading wide,
taking in all
of blue heaven,
revealing your center,
your strength.

March 25, 2024

 

Bird-of-Paradise

Wings and flaming beaks,
Flashing purple-blue tails,
Bright orange crown,
Brilliant tropical color.

Look again. Can it be?
You are no bird at all!
Just long graceful petals
Sharp and striking.

Suspended, proudly perched 
On a tall sturdy stem,
Rising from the fertile soil,
Ready to soar.

March 24, 2024

Springtime Sisters

Throughout the seasons
in fine trimmed gardens, 
dogwood, mountain laurel, hostas, 
hydrangea, and hellebore grow
alongside springtime sisters,
azalea and rhododendron –
a mutual crescendo of white, coral, 
carmine, yellow, pink, and purple. 

Striking spectacles in dappled shade:
Small, delicate Azalea blossoms 
Sweet home for hummingbirds,
in autumn she loses her leaves,
while Rhododendron bears 
fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers.
She keeps her large oval leaves,
Evergreen and ever true.

March 23, 2024

I survived a 15-hour drive from South Carolina to New Jersey! Whoo! Hoo! Today, I’m thinking about tulips and their incredible history. They are cultivated and don’t grow wild, except in parts of Eurasia and Africa. Their native ranges is from Portugal and Morocco to western China.

Springtime Love

Years and years ago,
Persian poets celebrated 
the beauty of the tulip.

Three centuries later, 
they grew in palace gardens 
of the Ottoman Empire.

Then brought to Holland, 
flourished and prospered,
a welcome sign of spring.

At first, small and bright red,
tulips were magically transformed
into flaming shades of color.

Once rare and expensive,
Now, ordinary beauties,
Everyone’s springtime love.

March 22, 2024

Today, my thoughts turn to the lilac. This flower was also one of my mother’s favorites. When I see them blossoming, I think of her and sweet memories return. As I researched this flower, I came across the myth of Pan and Syringa. Syringa is derived from from Ancient Greek word syrinx meaning “pipe.” I am finding all these flower myths, legends, and connections very interesting!

Awakening

Oh, the smell of spring!
Fragrant lilacs billowing
over the pergola,
creating a mantle
for bees and butterflies.

Pan, god of wild nature,
in love with nymph, Syringa,
chased her through the forest,
but she turned herself
into a sweet lilac bush.

Pan found the lilac
and made its branches
into a panpipe, filling the air 
with sweet perfume,
spring’s song awakening.

March 21, 2024

I love bleeding heart flowers. They are the quintessential symbol of spring for me. Somehow, they don’t even look quite real. They look more like some beautiful piece of jewelry or some silk decoration for a beautiful spring bonnet. I did some research and found their legend.

Unconditional 

Pendulous pink and white
heart-shaped flowers 
suspended from curve branches.

Folded blooms tell a story –
gifts to a fickle princess,
unrequited love.

Sorrow-filled prince,
no longer has a will to live,
leaves his princess grieving.

Rose-pink bleeding hearts,
unconditional love,
return every year in spring.

March 20, 2024

Thinking about the wildflowers that bloomed in my backyard when I was young. I loved that house because of those wildflowers. The house itself was a small, rust-colored Cape Cod. But the backyard was immense and there was a hillside with all kinds of wildflowers. My imagination grew up in that meadow. Here’s a poem to pay homage to that memory.

Wildflowers

The hillside of my childhood imagination
is covered with flowers in wild abundance:
Black-eyed Susan, Queen Anne’s Lace,
Sweet peas, daisies, and snapdragons.

Bees hovering above each flower,
suspended, drunk on pollen.
Their happy feet stained like the sun,
dancing on and on in the spring air.

I’d climb up the hillside,
bending and stooping
with a small pair of scissors,
gathering spring in my hands.

Running into the house,
reaching for a glass jar,
filling it with cool water,
colors of spring for my mother.

March 19, 2024

I still have dandelions on my mind. I love that they go through a golden then a silver puff stage, and that old stage is the time when they disperse their seeds. In this way, the cycle goes on and on. In addition, the lowly dandelion is edible and has significant health benefits. Dandelions contain antioxidants, support liver health, fight inflammation, help to manage blood sugar, and may lower blood pressure. My grandmother used to pick dandelions and put the leaves in salads, soups, and stews. She also dried the leaves and made dandelion tea. It was too bitter for me as a child, but I loved going out with her and picking the dandelions.

Dandelion

A weed in the garden
Stands tall,
Straight stem.
First budding golden,
Then as you age
You declare 
Your mighty beauty.
Silver-seeded and proud,
Rising above the intentional flowers
Planted with purpose
In uniform rows.
Your jagged leaves spread,
You boldly proclaim,
"Here are my precious seeds!"
The wind hears and blows.
Pieces of you scatter
In every direction,
Covering the earth.

March 18, 2024

I was inspired again by yet another blogger!  Three in a row!  That is surely good luck! Molly Hogan’s post, “Weed or Flower?” delved into the subject of publication rejection.  I’ve had many of my writings rejected, but not as many as I should have had!  I often don’t send in my writings to be judged because I don’t want them to be rejected.  However, Molly put rejection into perspective: “ All of my rejected poems are rather like a bouquet of weeds. A rejection doesn’t fundamentally change them or make them unworthy. It might simply mean they weren’t in the right place at the right time.” I am so glad Molly’s  poem, “On Eating Your Emotions”  was accepted for publication!  Congratulations, Molly!

I wrote Dandelion many years ago as part of a poetry novel.  I’ve reworked it here making it into stanzas and adding a bit more description.  Thanks, Molly for inspiring me to revise and keep on trying to publish!

Dandelion

Your golden head rises –

out of the rusty rubble.

ready now to blossom,

but you’re just another weed.


You push your way out –

between cracks in the sidewalk,

among rocks, bricks,

and bits of broken glass.


You grow strong –

impervious to your surroundings,

your leaves, jagged toothed,

spread green along the old gray ground.


You are not discouraged –

you’ve never depended

upon rain or fertilizer.

you provide your own sunlight.

March 17, 2024

I wanted to create a poem for Saint Patrick’s Day. Cathy at Doodads and Doodles blogged about having a cold and wrote a poem using the Tricube form. I thought I’d try my hand at it. Thanks, Cathy at for the inspiration and I hope your poem helped to cure your cold!

Irish Rose

Irish Rose,
Wild delight,
Youth regained.

Irish Rose,
Blush of spring,
Beauty waits.

Irish Rose,
Garden dream,
Love remains.

March 16, 2024

I’m interrupting my regularly scheduled flower poetry to bring an important message about baby shoes.  Sally Donnelly has written two posts about her granddaughter, Aden.  The first one was about buying Aden her first pair of shoes, and the second one was about entertaining Aden with children’s songs.  As I read, a song came into my head that wouldn’t leave!  I had fun and tried to throw in some reference to flowers.  Thanks to Sally and Aden for the inspiration!

Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes

Baby, baby, baby needs
a new pair of shoes.
Laced up and tied,
pretty pink or sailor blue.
Baby, baby, baby needs
A new pair of shoes.

Baby, baby, baby needs
a new pair of shoes.
Buttons, blossoms, or bows
And red ruby sparkles too.
Baby, baby, baby needs
A new pair of shoes.

Baby, baby, baby needs
a new pair of shoes.
In Mary Janes or sneakers
Dancing all the day through.
Baby, baby, baby needs
A new pair of shoes.

Baby, baby, baby needs
a new pair of shoes.
Months on months pass,
Little feet grew.
Baby, baby, baby needs
A new pair of shoes!

March 15, 2024

Hurrah!  The Ides of March

The garden is left mud-frosted,
battered and barren from
late snow and spring rain,
starved of light for months.

Hurrah for the Ides of March!
Mid-month is here,
yearning for April’s
lush new growth.

Carefully, quietly earth moves,
pushed up by spring ears
of new green leaves –
color with follow.

Spring is underway 
erasing winter’s blight.
Blooming and blossoming -
the hyacinth and crocus return.

March 14, 2024

Within Reach

Wintry dark brown branches 
soon show small green buds.
Uncurling the buds open
into flat white petals
bearing a sweet aroma
in the center of each bloom. 

When I see these
new white blossoms
of the flowering pear tree,
I remember my father-in-law
loved their appearance
as the first sign of spring.

He’s been gone almost 
ten years now,
but their lovely faces –
white with delicate pink
greet me and remind me
spring is just within reach.

March 13, 2024

Resurrection

March rain fell,
fierce and flooding.
Lightning struck,
opening the dark sky
with a jagged crack.

Wind and rain
pelted windowpanes,
rooftops, and railings
mercilessly whipping
everything its path.

In the morning
the only victim
was the magnolia tree
with its fragrant white 
luscious flowers.

Our graceful tree,
a herald of spring’s arrival,
the promised sweetness
and warm days to come,
laid split on the wet ground.

The arborist assessed the damage,
salvaged  thirty  small  cuttings, 
which will grow over the winter. 
Next spring, when weather warms,
the magnolia will bud again.

March 12, 2024

Perseverance

The Lenten Rose
freckled with color,
green, maroon, pink.

Garnet to ruby,
lilac to lavender,
cream to white.

Not a garden rose at all,
rather a blooming evergreen,
part of the buttercup family. 

Rose-like flower bud,
five-petal flower,
single or double blossom.

Growing on a carpet
of tranquil green 
in dappled sunlight.

Its delicate face 
nods downwards,
protecting it from the rain.

March 11, 2024

Reflection

Yellow trumpets of daffodils
ring in the dullest spring day.
Golden, cluster together
on the green hillsides and
among the dappled shade
of an ancient woodland,
or pushing up through the
grasses of a damp meadow,
leaning over the pond’s edge,
admiring its own reflection.
Bright light, new beginnings,
Spring solitude.

March 10, 2024

Hidden

Along the trail
this spring morning,
tiny flowers bloom
beside the just-greening
fallow meadow.
Hidden under leaves,
almost unnoticed,
three petal trillium -
white, yellow, blush,  
and red – wake robin,
rise gracefully above
a trinity of green leaves.
Grace, strength, and compassion
look upon this fragile beauty,
protecting  it in its place
in this gentle woods.

March 9, 2024

Hope

When Eve was cast out
of the Garden of Eden,
a continuous snow fell.
The earth became cold and barren.
As Eve sat weeping, 
down came and an angel,
to comfort Eve.
He caught a snowflake,
and breathed upon it. 
The delicate snowflake fluttered,
and sunk into the ground,
Eve’s eyes cast down,
and up through the melted the snow 
sprung a tiny white blossom –
a snowdrop brought hope 
to the world again.

March 8, 2024

Love Whispers

Among the primroses, 
trailing purple lobelia,
and sweet alyssum,
cheerful pansies with
upturned faces
brighten the cool garden.
Large heart-shaped 
Overlapping blue, yellow, 
and white petals
grow and bloom like magic.
Just waiting to be plucked.
Bend your head down low,
Listen – your love whispers.

March 7, 2024

Hyacinths

Long bright green leaves,
flowers bloom
in the spring garden,
Flamboyant flowers 
on tall spires
appear in thick clusters:
shades of blue, purple, 
white, pink, and red,
bell-shaped blooms. 
small, deeply fragrant
Return every year.

March 6, 2024

Forsythia
 
Golden like the sunrise.
an ancestor to the olive,
forsythia bloom brilliant yellow
on naked brown branches
in early in spring.
 
Bees and butterflies
hover and hum.
 
As spring turns into summer,
forsythia spread wildly or
are trimmed tightly
into a living wall,
protecting nature’s gifts.

March 5, 2024

Persistence

The rhododendron,
laden with fresh snow,
must not be deterred
by the last breath of winter.
A heavy, dead branch
curved and frost-crusted,
slumbers upon it.
A cool breeze stirs icicles
clinging from the evergreens,
which softly drips
onto its green leaves
glistening  with snowmelt.
Red buds point their way
towards spring.

March 4, 2024

Hibernation

	I

Following the path
Through the woods
Walking in other’s footprints
In the shallow snow,
I feel the tug from the earth,
A call from the bare branches
To come rest in the soft snow,
Sleep till spring.

	II

The woods are silent,
The sun is iced-over,
Each branch, each leaf
Is frozen in space and time,
A lone woodpecker lands
Rendering a hollow sound.

	III

The elm stands bare-boned,
I rest my cool cheek
Against its smooth trunk,
Take comfort from its
Immense strength,
Sturdy persistence,
Acknowledging the life within.

March 3, 2024

March Morning

Bare branches
fringe the sullen sky,
haunting and motionless.

Even the birds are too cold
to venture out 
this March morning.

The slate-gray stones,
which border the garden
are stamped with lichen -

Gray, white, pale green,
like alien snowflakes,
delicate and different.

The earth rests patiently
settling in under compost,
mulch, burlap blankets.

Tufts of grass still green
poke through a thin layer
of fresh fallen snow.

Golden oak leaves
lie frozen in a puddle
suspended till spring.

March 2, 2024

Revival

Early bloomer,
a welcome sight,
peeking up –
pushing through frost 
and late winter snow:
orange, pink, white, yellow.
low to the ground,
budding, open faces,
golden towards the sun,
strong perfume beckoning bees,
becoming a carpet of color,
Heralding spring.

March 1, 2024

Anticipation

Winter is fading
the snow, leaving 
the grass yellow,
matted down,
barely alive.
Birds come wondering
if this sudden warmth
is just temporary.
Tree buds hold tight
- not yet the time 
to blossom and bloom.
Winter holds on
a bit longer.