The Green Goddess of Spring

The green goddess of Spring

Slips through the woodland,

Leaves bright splashes of colour

Where her feet have trod

Of new leaves and fronds unfurling.

Petals and buds uncurling of

Bluebells, pale windflowers and golden celandines, pink apple blossom,

Yellow deadnettle, wood sorrel, primroses and violets.

As she weaves her way ‘twixt bush and tree

The birds follow her

In riotous assembly of song

And flashes of colour from breast and wing

As they feast

On caterpillars in the new-burst foliage.

The brook gurgles happily over its bed of stones

Where temple maidens come to gaze in its watery mirrors,

Their long hair trailing in the current.

They listen to the babble of the brook

as it whispers and chatters its tales of things seen and yet to pass.

Shy animals make their way to the edge to drink:

A silent doe with huge, liquid eyes with its nervous fawn.

A quick squirrel, frightened by the sound of a raucous jay

dips in a timid paw and turns to race up a nearby tree.

~ by traveller2006 on May 2, 2007.