Time to warm our cold, cold hearts! #phenology

You may have already noticed that the sun now provides enough warmth to melt the edges of snow on blacktopped stretches. It also happens with less vigor on gravel roads. They don't really get muddy, but they show their dampness. On the other hand, February has been colder than average. Think about that: Minnesota, North Country; February, depths of Winter; colder than average! Is it any wonder we've been grumping about how cold it is, more than 12 degrees BELOW normal.

We may get a Valentine's thaw on Wednesday from Mother Nature, but after that, ???  This is a wonderful time of year for us to concentrate on zen meditation and living in the moment. The weather transition will be inevitable, even inexorable, but neither consistent nor trustworthy. It is still quite awhile until we can count on last frost. Meanwhile, cuddle with your valentine to stay warm.

ready for Valentine's day

Photo by J. Harrington

                     Banyan

By Sudeep Sen

 for Jane Draycott

As winter secrets

 melt

with the purple

 sun,

what is revealed

 is electric —

notes tune

 unknown scales,

syntax alters

 tongues,

terracotta melts

 white,

banyan ribbons

 into armatures

as branch-roots

 twist, meeting

soil in a circle.

 Circuits

glazed

 under cloth

carry

 alphabets

for a calligrapher’s

 nib

italicised

 in invisible ink,

letters never

 posted,

cartographer’s

 map, uncharted —

as phrases fold

 so do veils.

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