Shades of Spring
by Sue Troutman

Winter is finally melting away,
leaving its frozen fractals behind
to glitter on the barren brown earth
as dew drops -
the first kisses of spring.
The stars fall from their charcoal-slate skies 
as spring showers -
Demeter’s tears of joy
as Persephone prepares her journey home.

Glimmers of green stretch from their roots,
playing peek-a-boo 
amongst the russet-umber of the withered world.
Budding trees brighten the backdrop
of ominous onyx clouds
and forsythia blossoms borrow sunlight
from the slowly-lengthening daylight,
spotlighting golden-saffron daffodils
against ochre herbage.
Periwinkle peeps out from beige terrain,
paying homage to the dwindling dusk
and the stark scarlet of a red-winged blackbird
ushers in the equinox.