Under downy snow
rest the gentle tendrils
of spring unfurling.
Promises etched on fresh petals,
Nature’s true benevolence.
*This poem is a tanka. The form consists of five lines (5, 7, 5, 7, 7 syllables). According to Poets.org:
One of the oldest Japanese forms, tanka originated in the seventh century, and quickly became the preferred verse form not only in the Japanese Imperial Court, where nobles competed in tanka contests, but for women and men engaged in courtship. The tanka’s economy and suitability for emotional expression made it ideal for intimate communication; lovers would often, after an evening spent together (often clandestinely), dash off a tanka to give to the other the next morning as a gift of gratitude.
A Reading Life 
Beautiful poem! The last few years I have had daffodils a couple inches out of the ground by the end of February, which always seemed weird. But I got used to having that by the time I started slicing. None this year yet though and I’m feeling sad!
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I lied! My daughter just looked and told me that there are daffodils and tulips popping up!
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Hooray!
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Such a swet poem explaining the magic of spring. I just noticed “gentle tendrils” in my front yard. I like thinking of them as a sign of “Promises etched on fresh petals”. So lovely!
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