Day 19 prompt: write a poem based on a “walking archive.”
The Spring Draw
Spring replaces Winter’s browns and grays
with shades and hues of green, some pinks
and whites in the trees. And more rain,
and wind to help insects spread pollen,
the whole point being new life, hope,
and promises of Summer to come.
Even the trails lay a carpet of green grass,
soft to my steps, comforting. To the sides
more color and tones of red and blue,
orange and proud yellows mixed with white,
every color and shade seems bright.
Both quiet and loud, and deer appear,
rutting passed soon we’ll see fawns running.
I pause often to photograph or admire
this gallery of natural art, walking on my trail,
some path remains, limestone rock
for stepping or tripping as creeks and washes run
wet with rainwater, animal prints in mud,
views obstructed by leaves fresh and green.
There is beauty even in the old dead trunks
of former mighty oaks, with knots and holes,
still standing tall and proud, some down
yielding to stormy winds, the promise still
of awakening even the soil of the Earth.
I sit to rest and to ponder or brood,
to drink and to stare and admire,
and to pity many who have seen
neither tree nor forest, nor felt the happy
heart of a Spring calf.
I walk Texas trails in Spring before
Hell sends Summer to scorch, and it calls
for cream to screen the rays of sun. Before
wet clay turns to dust and water runs rare.
Before the prickly pear cactus turns
its brilliant yellow flower, then to an apple red
bulb, then to a new cactus head. So long
as I am, and I can, out I shall go to treat
my senses to the many glances of nature.
“Me imperturbe, standing at ease in nature.”
Or, at attention, as I want to miss none of it all.
(Quote: credit Walt Whitman)
Always look both ways and all around, up and down.
Mind gaps and ravines in natural beauty if you seek pleasure.
Our Literary Journey 
An absolutely wonderful poem, Bill. I could see myself on the trail too😊💐😎
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Thank you, Sue.
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Beautiful! I was with you in my mind’s eye!
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Thanks, Yo.
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That was a lovely walk in your lovely poem. I feel like spring is vital to our wellbeing right now.
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Thank you, joey. I hope you and yours are well.
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Bill, this is an exquisite poem, your words bring nature alive and really made me feel as if I was there experiencing every colourful moment, bravo! I notice that you have written other impressive motivational poems this month in April, including two favourites of mine ‘To all the men and women, to the heroes and heroines (Day 16)’ and your Day 1 poem ‘My Marathon’. I have an inspirational poetry journal called “Auroras & Blossoms Poetry Journal” that has just published its third issue and we are running a special NaPoWriMo Anthology issue for inspirational poems written in NaPoWriMo 2020. If you are interested in submitting any of the wonderful poems of yours that I just mentioned above (including The Spring Draw) into our NaPoWriMo Anthology for publication then you can find more details below. We are also open to regular submissions all year round as well for inspirational poetry submissions.
https://abpoetryjournal.com/submit/
Hope you take the time to check us out, I’m sure our readers would love to get a chance to enjoy reading your poetry 🙂
David Ellis
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Thank you for your kind comments and invitation. I will most certainly take the time to review “Auroras & Blossoms Poetry Journal” and to submit.
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