I thank you for waking the earth again,
for gifting it with flowers and robins and fawns,
with ferns and the tender baby leaves of trees,
with lambs and baby goats and donkeys.
And all of it well-established now and ready
to unfold and grow. Thank you for melting away
winter’s frozen world, for replacing the cold
with balmy bare-armed days, and soft air
filled with birdsong. Thank you for rain,
and puddles, and rushing streams.
Thank you for thunderstorms and great winds,
and for your torrid foretastes of summer.
You did it all! And now you leave me
with this parting gift, this pure and tender flower.
I will remember you always, dear Springtime.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Farewell.