Snowdrops bring
(de) light to the darkest,
coldest months of winter:
one day, tentatively poking
green heads through
hard soil; the next, trickling
into a snowdrift of white flowers,
gentle harbingers
of unfettered reproduction
and the joyous riot of spring.
Kim M. Russell, 29th January 2019
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Poetics: Harbinger, also linked to Imaginary Garden with Real Toads Tuesday Platform
Sarah is our host for this week’s Poetics and she tells us about green spikes poking through the soil in her neighbour’s trough and thinking “Harbingers of spring!” because she’s a poet, and that’s how poets think. It also got her thinking about the word ‘harbinger’.
Sarah has given us a definition from Oxford Dictionaries to help us write about a harbinger of spring, doom, or something else.
writing in north norfolk 
Oh, yes. That’s just perfect. It’s the detailing in your poems that I really love, you have a very precise way with words. And that last line is a joy. I can’t wait!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Sarah!
LikeLike
I love the thought of them coming… but I don’t expect them until somewhere in March… love the waiting though
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have some in our garden – and now the snow is here – it’s getting later every year.
LikeLike
I like the ambivalence of the snowdrift of flowers. Spring!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m afraid winter has just caught up with us, Jane. Snowflakes this evening.
LikeLike
Hope it blows over, though I think there’s a lot of polar weather dumping on northern Europe and the States.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love snow drops. Not blooming here yet though. Ironically, when the snow melted last week, I found a group of violets blooming. It is 22F here today. Looking eagerly for spring.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have snowdrops and catkins – I’ve even seen some early gorse but not in our garden.
LikeLike
I love the gentle joy in this. It’s like a wonderful surprise when you actually see snowdrops or crocuses pop up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Merril.
LikeLike
Now those kind of snowdrops I love! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
Give me those drops, and keep the flakes. I could use one of those /joyous riots/ around here for sure.Our only snowfall was one day last month; the kind of winter I can dig; overcast, dark and rainy, temps in the 40’s during the day, teens at night.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re expecting more snow overnight. The cold is causing havoc with my hands.
LikeLike
One thing for sure is our delight over those firstsnowdrops.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Snowdrops bring
(de) light to the darkest,
coldest months of winter” the snow does the same. a winter with the dark skies would be grim without (de)light of snow. well done. it gives a positive spin to where we are
LikeLiked by 1 person
This morning we have snow, Jade!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It must be a joy to see snow with new eyes 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s gone now but the night is clear with lots of stars and it’s freezing. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like good poetry-writing weather 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely snowdrops!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous! ❤ Love the “gentle harbingers of unfettered reproduction,” Spring isn’t too far away now 😍😍😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sanaa! This morning we have a layer of snow. I was beginning to feel guilty that we had snowdrops without snow. 🙂
LikeLike
A yummy write Kim – love love love.
Proof that harbingers can be beautifully delicate.
Anna :o]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Anna. 🙂
LikeLike
So hopeful…flowers in the cold!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rajani!
LikeLike
mmmmm Spring. Bring it on!! Lovely verse.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Violet!
LikeLike
Beautiful words for beautiful flowers Kim 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Christine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unfettered reproduction – the perfect descriptor of spring! And may it come quickly 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have a layer of snow this morning but I can hear birds singing! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The first to blooms in spring…you evoke the feeling of to seeing them poke their heads up. I like “unfettered reproduction”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Kathy.
LikeLike
It must be a pretty sight, the green irises poking up through the snow. When we moved here I brought some volunteer Louisiana Irises and made a confined patch of them. Though late bloomers this January spring they are such a pretty green, straight and tall In our back yard garden. No snow here (Houston), we had our once-every-ten’year allotment last year.
..
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like those early snow white flowers or spring. Or any flowers.in early spring.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always get excited when I spot the first snowdrops in my back yard. Seeing them is one of my touchstones for the year’s progress (along with first bird song, forsythia bloom, first butterfly spotted, etc.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
My husband gave me a bouquet for our anniversary today with eucalyptus branches, deep red lilies and my favourites – tulips, the first I’ve seen this year. 🌷🌷🌷
LikeLike
I love this, Kim!! Why winter has only began, and already we are thinking of spring.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Annell!
LikeLike
The wild blooming of snowdrops speak spring into the mouth of winter… Love your poem!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Susie!
LikeLike
I love your harbingers of spring,and though the wind howls tonight and the furnace labors, it won’t be long!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Yvonne!
LikeLike
Yes!!! I can’t wait, especially after today. I was almost blown off my feet by this wind.
Pat
LikeLiked by 1 person
Scary!
LikeLike
Very engaging write Kim…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rob.
LikeLike
from your poem i feel the earth just going wild with delight – such beauty is spring’s awakening
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Gina.
LikeLiked by 1 person