The earth
slowly shrugs off
her blanket of snow.
sticking out an arm,
a toe,
gently opening one eye.

Her hair sticks out
every which way;
her limbs
still heavy with sleep.
She lays quiet
and begins to
look around.

Trees are gray;
their twining branches bare
but look! – tiny buds
ready to flesh out.

Brown grasses and leaves
matted down from
the weight of the snow
dry themselves in
a spring breeze.

She listens to
the joyous sounds
of the song birds
chattering in the
warming spring sun.
It is time to get up
there is much to be done.