With today marking the first day of spring, I thought I would share some poems reflecting the start of the season—even though here in Central New York, the calendar can lie, and winter weather can appear well past Easter.

Melting snow pile. Copyright Francis DiClemente, 2024.

I love this transition period when temperatures have warmed slightly, the ground loses snow cover (for the most part), but trees haven’t bloomed yet, and it’s still cold enough to wear a hat and gloves. It’s the promise of another spring, another summer, and the realization that I’ve survived another winter.

Dreaming of Spring

In the middle of winter
I dreamed trees were blooming.
I was given another season of life,
another chance to keep breathing.

Winter Away

While I loathe the
wind, cold and snow
winter imparts,

I’m always sad
when spring comes
and the chill
in the air departs.

With winter leaving,
it’s like I’m losing
a friend at the end
of the season.

Boy in the Window

Rain pounds the sidewalk.
Wind swirls. Tree limbs scrape window.
Toddler looks and waves.

Hatless

A warm morning.
First day
of the year
without a
winter hat.
These old,
gray hairs
soaking up
the sunlight.