A Good Home, Flowers, Gardening, Life in canada, Poem, Poetry, Seasons Change, Winter's End

A Winter’s Tail

Cynthia Reyes

The birds are back with songs of Spring

Their tunes incite imagining

That Winter’s end will soon arrive

And living things shall haste to thrive

~~

Via vitalxrecognition.wordpress.com/
Image Thanks to: vitalxrecognition.wordpress.com/

A Winter’s Tail, how bittersweet!

Today it’s sun, tomorrow sleet

And wind to stop us in our tracks

And cold to freeze Spring-hungry backs

~~

One day we feel a wave of hope

Warmed by our thoughts that we can cope

And then come gales of Winter still

And blizzards coat the windowsill

~~

Blog Photo - Icy Winter evening

Ho, Winter! Do your level best

Your time is near to take a rest

For Lady Spring prepares to rule

She’ll thaw your ice and warm your cool

~~

She’ll rout you, kick your icy tail

She’ll make you wish you’d stopped at hail

Who’s mighty now, oh Freezer Guy

Who rules the roost? Oh my, oh my!

Blog Photo - Rainy Garden with Flowering shrubs

Spring wakes the earth; the gardens flower

She turns grass green and makes you cower

She strips away your winter clothes

And sprinkles sunshine up your nose

Blog Photo - Mama's Garden2

She brings new life to garden trail

She gives new strength to plants so frail

To stand up ‘gainst your mighty storm

And so defy your freezing form

 ~~

Ho! Winter’s Tail, I kid you not

Pick up your snow and off you trot

Break down your ice and melt away

See you around, when skies are grey

 ~~Blog Photo - Lilacs and forget Me Nots

See you next time, oh Frigid One

But not too soon, for Spring’s begun

And three great seasons I shall see

Before you’re back to torment me.

 ~~

Thanks to Hamlin Grange for all original photos.

Dedicated to my friends Lisa E. and Marion W: Spring is near.

88 thoughts on “A Winter’s Tail”

    1. You made me laugh. When I first wrote this poem, they were both female. then I remembered: I always say “Lady Spring”. So I was going for a bit of gender parity, there. And see? I screwed up.

      I will make summer a guy. How’s that?

      Reply

      2. Thanks, Lavinia. I know and like that saying “old man winter” but had no idea Joni Mitchell used it in her lyrics. Of course, being a musician, you’d know that! When does your March newsletter come out? I’ve been checking for it!

    2. Quick mythology check says that Hades kidnapped Persephone, and Demeter was so upset at the loss of her daughter that her depression caused winter. Persephone came back for a visit each year, and her mother responded with spring… So, Hamlin, the male god caused the emotional upset of the female god that caused all hell to break loose. Sound familiar?

      Cynthia, this is such a comical, cheery poem! Woo hoo!

      Reply

      1. I laughed out loud at your reply, Aggie.
        What a hoot. And I am glad you did your mythology check.
        Yoo-hoo. A great reply. Although: what does Lou think?

  3. What an utter treat that was…:)
    It was a joyful kick in the behind to the old man. Thank you for warming up my day. I wish you peace.

    Reply

    2. See what I mean? Here we are giving a “kick in the behind” to “the old man.” Would anyone do the same to an “old woman.” As far as I’m concerned, Spring is a guy: virile, strong, full of optimism and very playful. Winter is a beautiful woman who invites you to cautiously play outdoors but welcomes and encourages warm hugs.

      Reply

      2. And furthermore: can’t women be strong, and playful? Although, I had better not take this too far, until I hear from more of my male readers – and females too!

  5. I am looking forward to spring! The snow and ice is all gone, I saw a few icicles this morning but those will probably be gone today too. We are having rain today and temps are supposed to get to 40. Do you still have snow on the ground?

    Reply

    1. Me neither! But you’ll get them first, I think. Whichever, we’ll share the photos! What new and wonderful ‘objet d’art’ are you working on this week? I’ll have to do a post about your lovely woodwork soon.

      Reply

      1. Yes, we will probably get the spring flowers first! I am working on a couple nice pieces. One large end grain board that is going to be used on a kitchen island. It will be Maple and Cherry. I also am trying to finish up 75 walnut boards for a local shop, hope to have those completed tomorrow. Lauren and I are schedule to talk Wednesday next week! I can’t wait, enjoy your weekend!

  8. What a wonderfully fun and clever poem Cynthia! I love the photos and clever wit and rhyming. I’ll stay out of the debate on gender correctness.
    I’m happy as long as spring comes in female or male form! XD

    Reply

    1. I know, Brad: you’re a lover, not a fighter. I’m glad you like the poem and photos. I wish I could write the kind of poems you write – they’re soulful. Mine are either ridiculous or very intense. But now that I consider these words: that about sums up my life these days! Big smile, Brad.

      Reply

      1. I think we’re too hard on ourselves!

        I was admiring your poem while the inner critic was telling me how good your poem is and bad mine is! I find your writing engaging. And I have the waves from silly to serious too.

        Maybe we can be gentler with ourselves, loving all of it and appreciating both our commonalities and differences.
        Hugs and smiles my friend! 🙂

      2. I think you’re right. Our inner critics can be so harsh and silly and I find mine worse after a long stretch of painful illness. Someone should tell that critic this is the very time to lay off the carping! Gee wiz….

  11. A lovely poem, have you really still got snow? If we are talking French then Winter is masculine but then so is Spring. In fact all the seasons are; as they are in German. But I agree Spring seems feminine. Maybe that is because we associate it with Botticelli’ s Primavera. And all that fecundity and the Earth giving birth to new life; it has to be feminine doesn’ t it?

    Reply

    1. I’m with you, Sister! La Primavera. Every time I worked in Florence I would find myself sitting on that long bench, staring at that painting. Boticelli’s Venus looked so simple, compared to La Primavera; time flew as I stared at the detail in that painting, so reminding us northerners of the earth coming to life in different ways. So take that, Hamlin! Spring is female!

      Reply

  13. I love this poem! A real coming-out-fighting poem! No namby-pamby buds-and-breezes for you, Cynthia! The photos of your garden are beautiful – the winter ones as well as the spring and summer ones. It won’t be long now I am sure. Just you keep on fighting and getting better! Much love C xx

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Clare. I think I’m re-finding my fighting mood, but it’s still early in the day yet! (smile) I am so grateful for the sunshine as well. And for your generous response!

      Reply

    1. Ya-a-ay! I’m so looking forward to Spring, Allen. What’s the weather like in Keene right now? Which reminds me: time to visit your blog. The notices of new posts still aren’t coming in so I have to check each time.

      Reply

  21. Here winter is leaving and spring is coming with a splash and a drip and melting ice around us, and the sounds of argumentative geese and ducks and seagulls. Spring is welcome in any guise, and happily welcomed by your words!

    Reply

  22. Cynthia, this is wonderful. The pictures and the poem go splendidly together (like the writer and the photographer). I’m especially happy for you Easterners that spring is only a few days away.

    Blessings ~ Wendy ❀

    Reply

      1. Weather has been very warm, but also very wet with much flooding. I’m still waiting on the green. Everything is still pretty dead looking. Which is why I loved your post this morning. 🙂

  32. I’m so glad you brought this back–I missed it before, and it is perfection! And altogether too descriptive of what our weather is like right now!

    Reply

  33. I loved this post the first time, too! I miss cardinals! They do not come this far west. Those striking red feathers against the snowy background always remind me of my New England homeland.

    March has been a cold, rainy month down here, although we just mowed the lawn. Trees are beginning to bloom in some places, and some of ours are almost at bud break.

    Reply

    1. They are pretty birds, and a welcome flash of colour in winter. Cold and rainy means the start of Spring, and we’re getting that now too. But you just mowed the lawn? We’re nowhere near that yet. When do the buds fatten up on the vines?

      Reply

      1. Here in western Oregon, grass turns green in winter with the onset of the rainy season, and turns brown and tinder box dry in summer during the dry season. Grass starts growing madly in March, and generally needs mowing by the middle of the month.

        The buds are fattening and showing signs of life on the vines now, and will break some time in April, weather depending. We don’t want buds to break too early because of the possibility of frosts. It all depends on the whims of Mother Nature. 🙂

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