I’m ready for spring, but it hasn’t arrived. Not yet.
-from ”Walking to Indian River” by Mary Oliver
Photo: One lonely crocus in my front garden
This time of year, thoughts naturally turn to spring. And looking back on my Poetry Friday posts in late March, I almost always write about spring. Here’s a nonet I wrote last year but didn’t share here. It was written in response to a picture for a magazine but wasn’t selected. I don’t have the picture, but I think it can stand alone.
Welcoming Spring
Something in the air tickled bear’s nose
in the deep dark of his den, then
prickled hedgehog’s hollow hairs
and whirled to wake raccoon.
One by one the friends
emerged to dance,
to sing, to
welcome
spring!
Draft, RoseCappelli2025
Hope all of you in the northern hemisphere can welcome spring today! Tanita has the roundup today on her blog where you’ll find lots of poetry goodness.
Imagine the Possibilities 
Oh, that nose tickle is so cute. I have some loved ones that are sneezing with the extra nose tickles this week. Unfortunately, allergies are arriving with the spring.
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Yes, love the verbs- tickled, prickled, whirled. A good reminder to think outside the box with our verbs, as they add so much and are fun on the tongue! The spring allergies have started in my house. Trying to remember that is a good sign :)
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Oh “whirled to wake raccoon” Love! And yay for spring. The birds are super happy this morning (as am I).
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Rose, your delightful poem made me smile even though we’re expecting snow on Monday here in New Hampshire! Thanks for sharing the poem and your solo crocus—both give me hope that I’ll soon feel spring tickling my nose!
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Oh, this is sweet, Rose. It reminds me of a cumulative picture book (can’t recall the name right now!) of animals sensing something and finding out it’s spring. The nonet is fascinating as a form for this because the syllables descend yet the momentum builds. Well done!
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“Prickled hedgehog’s hollow hairs – “
How much do I love that we not only LEARN about the actual facts about the hedgehog but it’s still wrapped in cuteness? That shot of the crocus is GOLD, by the way – the gradation of shade from the center to the tip of the petal is just so beautiful.
Hang in there – we’re so close to Spring!
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Your poem has such wonderful rhythm, Rose, I feel as if it could be set to music! The news here is that they’re identified over 50 bears that are coming out of hibernation, so folks in the foothills have to watch out! Happy spring to you!
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Love those short i sounds and how this poem MOVES. Yay for spring indeed! xo
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I love the imagery in your nonet poem. I think it has the seeds of a picturebook.
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So delightful, Rose – all that alliteration and liveliness! Happy Spring – we have 80s on tap for the weekend here.
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Rose, nice nonet to welcome spring. I love the ending with the sing/spring rhyme. It sounds like the friends’ dancing. Did you read Cathy’s poem this week about her one purple crocus?
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Yes! Cathy and I were in sync this week!
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Oooh, you captured the slow awakening so well, Rose!
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Hooray for Spring and for all the crocuses, lonely or in rows and clumps. The deer missed one of mine that’s tucked back from the front beds, but they trimmed the foliage of all the rest. I took that as my signal to move the plants to the back bed where they’re protected by a fence (that technically isn’t high enough to keep deer out, but somehow does for which I am eternally grateful! Shh…don’t tell the deer!). Maybe they’ll bloom this spring, maybe they’ll try again next year. We’ll see. At least they’ll have a chance to do the “work” they were made for!
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Oh I hope you have good luck with them. I want to plant some more. They are such a welcome sign of spring.
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Your poem is charming and draws us in, I think it would make a delightful picture book too! Thanks Rose and Happy Spring! 🦋🪻🐝
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Rose, this is a delightful poem on the arrival of spring. Something in the air tickled, prickled, and whirled the animals. Allergy season hits the animals too, I think children would love this nonet. It’s a happy spring weekend in Northern VA.
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