Memory Quickens

The avid gardener delighted that
April has finally arrived, takes the
measure of snow and ice still 
stubbornly clamped over garden beds
and borders, watching day by day as
spring rain begins to wash the 
lingering impudence of winter's
frozen presence into a melt gradually 
revealing the waiting soil incrementally 
appearing as snow and ice recedes
rewarded by the resilience of garden 
perennials thrusting green shoots 
emerging from their winter sleep
as though their release has suddenly 
alerted them to the imperative of an 
appearance in reassurance that life 
in a hesitated state of abeyance 
yet retains the intention of defeating 
forces of nature constraining their 
survival. Each shoot representing 
a variety of plant species the
gardener recognizes and welcomes
anticipatiing every one surfacing
none falling victim to the depth of
winter's icy penetration. The balance of
moderation returned to the garden with
the warming sun, encouragement of
gentle rains persuading bulbs and
rhizomes to nudge themselves to
action, to transform the monotony
of white and grey to radiant bursts of
colour, shade and textures, as the
garden competes with itself in the
promise of its longed-for potential.