March 1 on a South Texas Country Road
Winter palette fades.
Painted over by Springing.
Weary gray tinges green.
Bare branch silhouette
Softens, hazed in chartreuse fog.
Baby leaves split tight coats.
Shiny buds unfold
Clover, dandelion, moss
Each green different
Why call it Red Bud?
It’s lilac, pink, violet.
Purple vetch vines, twines.
Blue wood violet,
Saffron puffs of sweet Huisache
Fill air with fragrance.
Indian Paintbrush
Tiny torches start to blaze,
scatter scarlet flames.
Not yet showing bloom,
Bluebonnets, Crimson Clover
soon add to Spring’s song.
Bleak chill of winter
Gives way to resurrection,
melody of Life.
