24 hours

4/2/2024

Hello, blog friends.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend with family and friends. In my part of the world (northern Arizona at 5,000' elevation), Spring has arrived in all its fickleness. I even risked buying some potted flowers on Saturday to dress up my home for Easter. But, within 24 hours, skies went from sunny and warm to grey and snowing.

Poet Colleen Chesebro invites us to consider the season and write a poem that captures our experience. My two tankas reflect the overnight weather changes in our area.

On Saturday I walked a path close to my home. The normally brown gravelly dirt was covered with tiny pink blossoms. It was entrancing.

Twenty-four hours later, the same path was covered with snow. Not one visible blossom. Then yesterday it warmed up to 50 degrees but dropped to below freezing as night approached. Fickle? I think so.

Spring flirts with sunshine and budding trees as she coquettishly dances through the day. I've tried to capture this experience with words like tiny wildflowers, brisk breezes, spring blossoms, and grey skies. Won't you share your experience of the season?

Have a wonderful week and let's all enjoy Spring's arrival.

43 Comments

Mae Clair link

4/2/2024 06:18:15

I know spring is a very fickle (and often shy) lady, Gwen, but wow---you really had some weather extremes in a short time. I think your poems capture the uncertainty of early spring beautifully.

We have been dealing with rain and cool temps in the north east, but warm weather and sunny skies are predicted next week. I can't wait!

And, BTW, I also loved your closing for this post "I've tried to capture this experience with words like tiny wildflowers, brisk breezes, spring blossoms, and grey skies."

That's poetry, too! 🙂

Gwen M. Plano

4/2/2024 09:59:00

Thank you so much, Mae. I love your choice of words, "often shy". Spring surely is a bit shy. ❤️

Jacqui link

4/2/2024 08:03:23

A tale of three days--that's a poem if I've ever heard one.

Gwen M. Plano

4/2/2024 09:56:43

LOL. Thank you, Jacqui. Weather wise, it's definitely the Wild West here. 😊

Balroop Singh link

4/2/2024 09:43:01

What a wonder! We may call it freak weather but look at the awesome poetry it has inspired! Gwen, I love the imagery, which is so vivid.

Gwen M. Plano

4/2/2024 09:55:45

How sweet of you to say, Balroop. Thank you so much. 😊

Eugi link

4/2/2024 10:17:13

The crazy weather inspired you to pen beautiful poetry, Gwen. Where I live, I feel we have four seasons in one day.

Gwen M. Plano

4/2/2024 12:13:46

Wow - four seasons in one day. It truly is a crazy time of the year. Thank you, Eugi, for the smiles and cheers. 😊

Liz Gauffreau link

4/3/2024 05:21:01

I LOVE your first tanka, particularly the bunny in the last line. We're set to get a big dump of snow starting tonight and going into tomorrow. My husband is glad he refrained by the urge this past month to switch out the snow blower on the lawn tractor with the mower deck.

Gwen M. Plano

4/3/2024 14:47:33

LOL, your husband made the right decision, Liz. When I lived back East, I loved my snowblower -- much easier than shoveling all day. 😊

Tim Dittmer link

4/3/2024 06:51:15

Beautiful poetic acknowledgement of the teasing of spring, Gwen. ❤

Gwen M. Plano

4/3/2024 14:48:12

Thanks so much, Tim. 😊

Priscilla Bettis link

4/3/2024 07:33:26

I enjoyed your poems Gwen. Spring is my favorite season, but it's awfully unpredictable. We've had 90-degree weather followed by 33-degree mornings followed by a hailstorm then dry wind then sticky humidity. Whew!

Gwen M. Plano

4/3/2024 14:50:24

Wow! We've not had those extremes, Priscilla. Maybe our elevation has something to do with that. You could wear a coat or a swimsuit in one day! 😊

Sue Coletta link

4/3/2024 07:37:03

Gorgeous poetry, Gwen. "Fickle" is an understatement in New Hampshire. I was so looking forward to spring. We enjoyed a streak of sunny weather that reached into the 50s. Then 28" of snow fell. Another quick break of sun for a week. Later today, we're expecting another 18" of snow. It's impossible to acclimate to such severe changes.

Gwen M. Plano

4/3/2024 14:53:17

Oh My Goodness, Sue. That's fickle squared! LOL.

Dan Antion link

4/3/2024 07:54:18

That was an extreme change, Gwen. I hope the rabbits ate well while they had the chance.

Gwen M. Plano

4/3/2024 14:54:47

I hope so too, Dan. My husband spotted a goffer peeking up from his hole. I think the rapid temp changes are hard on all living things.

Jan Sikes

4/3/2024 09:15:51

Fickle is the perfect word for Spring, Gwen. I love both poems and the photo comparisons! It's coming soon in full bloom!

Gwen M. Plano

4/3/2024 14:56:05

Thank you, Jan, for the kind words. Happy Spring to you. 😊

Thomas Wikman link

4/3/2024 13:29:52

Those are delightful nature poems. I love the look of the colored boxes with the photo and the poem side by side. It looks nice.

Gwen M. Plano

4/3/2024 14:58:53

Thanks so much, Thomas. I'm delighted you enjoyed them. 😊

Annette Rochelle Aben

4/3/2024 13:59:23

charmed by the imagery!

Gwen M. Plano

4/3/2024 14:57:53

Thank you, Annette. 🤗

John Howell link

4/3/2024 14:25:14

Your spring gyrations would drive me crazy. Your poems are terrific.

Gwen M. Plano

4/3/2024 14:57:21

It's definitely a little crazy-making. I've learned to wear layers - and layers.

Jacquie Biggar

4/3/2024 18:00:35

Spring flirts with sunshine and budding trees as she coquettishly dances through the day.
I love this line, Gwen <3
What a lovely visualization!

Gwen M. Plano

4/4/2024 05:28:27

I'm so glad you liked that line, Jacquie. Thank you! 😊

msjadeli link

4/3/2024 19:07:53

Really enjoyed the first one and fickle is a good word for what the weather has been doing. Poor pink blossoms!

Gwen M. Plano

4/4/2024 05:30:53

Thank you, Ms. Jade, for the kind words. I walked by that section yesterday, and the snow has melted but blossoms are gone, just as you've mentioned. 😊

JadeLi link

4/7/2024 18:12:22

You're welcome.

Marsha link

4/3/2024 20:42:02

Weren't the flowers so lovely? We walked around Courthouse Plaza today, and I didn't need a sweater even. 72 degrees. YAY! Lovely days ahead. :) BTW, We are meeting at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix at 10:30 on April 15th and having lunch there after we walk around and take pictures, if you want to come. We'd love to have you join us. :)

Gwen M. Plano

4/4/2024 05:34:02

Yes, briefly, but beautifully. ❤️Lucky you to go to the Desert Botanical Gardens. I've never been there, so I'll keep you invite in mind, Marsha. Have a wonderful week.

mark bierman link

4/4/2024 18:49:27

Wonderful tankas, Gwen. I can easily imagine those poor spring blossoms trembling.

Gwen M. Plano

4/5/2024 07:52:51

Ahh, thank you so much, Mark. 😊

Colleen Chesebro link

4/5/2024 10:10:35

Gwen, your poetry and photos are amazing. You've captured spring in the high desert of Arizona perfectly. 🌸

Gwen M. Plano

4/5/2024 20:05:49

Oh my, thank you so much, Colleen. ❤️

Yvette M Calleiro link

4/7/2024 15:13:22

We got a couple of cold mornings this past week but nothing like what you are experiencing. I love your poems, Gwen! You captured both moments perfectly.

Yvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com

D. Wallace Peach link

4/8/2024 06:53:08

Fickle is the perfect word for this spring weather. I think it's happening everywhere! But spring is pushing through. I hope your days are turning lovely and warm, Gwen. Beautiful poetry. <3

Robbie Cheadle

4/8/2024 22:55:30

Your poem is a delight, Gwen 💖

willowdot21 link

4/9/2024 08:35:39

spring... Which ever way you paint her she is perfidious ... beautiful poems Gwen 💜 💜

ben Alexander link

4/14/2024 03:15:49

Wow, Gwen! Fickle is right! That's actually quite amazing - I've never seen weather change like that.

~David

Jules link

4/15/2024 13:04:00

We have had a very fickle spring too. I think hubby golfed in December, January and February when it was at least 60F or higher. Then we had dips to freezing (some nights 20F)....

Yes you did very well on capturing fickle Spring.

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