Through the window, I peek and pretend
dangling snowflakes are Dogwood petals
from the sturdy tree in my old front yard,
drifting to rest peacefully in an empty bed.
But instead, I find hard-headed hail
landing, white ants sprawling everywhere
in a shameful winter temper tantrum.
Widowed clouds pass, hanging their heads.
Alas, I cover my mouth in regret to see
the petals of the Red Bud tree turning
the white concrete to raspberry sherbet.
Spring hung itself here below the Judas tree.
The bleeding mauve blossoms crucified,
dangling limbs slumped over in defeat.
The broken-hearted leaves lie defiled,
scattered on a fresh grave of mourning mulch.
NaPoWrimo 2021 Day Six. Today’s prompt appealed to my literary mind. We were tasked to go to a book you love and find a short line that strikes you. Make the line the title of your poem. Write the poem. Then after you’ve finished, change the title completely.
It was snowing here in Munich today, petals falling and some blooming plants at risk of an early death. The weather reminded me of a line from a recently read favorite, Slaughter-House-Five by Kurt Vonnegut. “Now, they were dying in the snow, feeling nothing, turning the snow to raspberry sherbet.”
Yard Sale of Thoughts 
The same thing is happening here. Very sad, but beautifully written!
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Thank you kindly, Ingrid. We can’t help but watch the magnolia tree outback that was just on the cusp of blooming now find an early ending.
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I know somebody who works ay a garden centre here. They receive a double bonus each year – people go out and very keenly buy bedding plants at Easter. However the frosts are not yet over, and the plants die. Those same people are back at the garden centre during the Mayday holiday (the UK has a bank holiday, the first Monday in May),
A double payout!
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Been there, planted that. Just such a shame to see the trees have just a few days of stardom and then death to all their loveliness.
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we have a magnolia which was starting to flower, but which I fear will be done for after the past few days. But it is like this every year, and develops wonderful foliage as we move into summer.
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The devastation that these early spring showers can cause is horrendous.You nailed it again!
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Thank you kindly, Hobbo. Still snowing here, a freak show really. Magnolia won’t make full bloom another year, always a gamble with her, though.
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Some years are like that. A reflection of life.
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It’s beautiful! 💕. I really connected with the imagery and the “shameful temper tantrum” brought a big smile to my lips. Expertly hewn!
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Thank you. I have lots of experience with temper tantrums and it just seemed the work here in this timely poem. So glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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love this poem so much; ‘temper tantrums’, ‘raspberry sherbet’, mourning mulch … you’ve really nailed this one — and i respect that you acknowledged Kurt Vonnegut as ‘Worms’ acknowledged Hemingway 🙂 this is going RIGHT NOW into my commonplace book !!
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I was so hopeful you would approve. Honored to be selected for your CB. Beaming😊.
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that’s good, Karen: top shelf 🙂
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