Spring(???) comes to the North Country

This morning we finished (re)reading Ted Kooser's Winter Morning Walks; 100 Postcards to Jim Harrison. The last postcard is dated March 20, which was the date of the equinox the year it was written. Yesterday, March 19, late at night, was the official equinox this year. Today is the first full day of Spring in our neighborhood. Earlier this week we found the first tick of the year on one of the dogs. As we write this,  the outside temperature is 21℉, hardly Spring-like unless you live in the North Country. Our Spring weather is about as volatile as the stock market these days. The average high temperature for today is 43℉. Yesterday or Wednesday we saw raindrops suspended from leaf buds on our oak trees. Next week we're forecast to enjoy a string of 50's. North Country Spring is truly a poster child for our turbulent times.

liquid precipitation portends Spring's arrival in the North Country

Photo by J. Harrington

Tomorrow is World Poetry Day. The United Nations notes that

Poetry reaffirms our common humanity by revealing to us that individuals, everywhere in the world, share the same questions and feelings. Poetry is the mainstay of oral tradition and, over centuries, can communicate the innermost values of diverse cultures.

If you follow the "Ted Kooser" link below today's poem, you'll get to read a newspaper column that tells us "The world needs its poets right now, its dreamers and its philosophers, those who ponder and hope." We couldn't agree more. Kooser is one of our favorite poets. The column  from which we pulled the quote helps to explain why, almost as well as reading his poems could. Enjoy Spring, World Poetry Day, remember to Stay Home if the CORVID19 virus has emerged in your country. Whether it  has or not, you'd do well to learn How to Read a Poem, slow down, and enjoy what's left of your life. To which "someone" is it important that you are alive, and walking. Reach out and touch them, even if it's only virtually.

march 20

The vernal equinox


How important it must be
to someone
that I am alive, and walking,
and that I have written
these poems.
This morning the sun stood
right at the end of the road
and waited for me.

—Ted Kooser

[if you choose not to follow the link above, you'll miss a wonderful treat]

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