The Field Marshal of Spring

This time of year more

Than a millennium ago

The great Tang poets

Used to make their way

Around the willow parks

Surrounding the outskirts

Of Chang An in search

Of the earliest signs

Of spring

It became something

Of a game played by

The likes of Li Bai

And Du Fu to see

Who could lay claim

To prior sighting of a

Crocus breaking forth

From the ground or even more

Incredibly who might stumble

First on the sprout of

A wild asparagus spear

And it was precisely

Such a moment as this that  

My wife and I encountered

On our way home

This afternoon

As we rounded

The corner onto

Foster Crossing

And came across

This willow tree in our

Neighbor's front yard

That was lit up by the

Sun's retreating rays

As if from within

It glowed with pride

Having just signed up

For another leap of faith

This being the first day

Of Spring no less
With a rime of snow

Still dappling the lawn
And this willow was already

Engaged in vigorous display
Of the path forward