Countdown to The ‘Mud-Luscious’ Season

For my friends in California—or other mythical lands to the far west and South where the winter climate can’t actually kill you— this is to remind you why you live in California—or other mythical lands to the far west and South. I wish I were there, too. But it’s much worse north and east of us. (I haven’t forgotten you, Canada and Boston! Bet you were worried…. Stay tuned for stories of massive flooding in a couple of weeks.)

The mountains I’m looking at about a mile away are freighted with white still, as they have been since before Christmas. It was 0-degree F. this morning. We have learned that 29F isn’t really so bad after a month of gawdawful below zero overnight temperatures, too. Everything’s relative. But the dreariness will pass away soon.

The countdown begins.

In Just-

in Just-

spring          when the world is mud-

luscious the little

lame balloonman
whistles          far          and wee
and eddieandbill come

running from marbles and

piracies and it’s

spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer

old balloonman whistles

far          and             wee

and bettyandisbel come dancing

from hop-scotch and jump-rope and
it’s

spring

and

the

 

goat-footed

 

balloonMan          whistles

far

and

wee