Glory Days

 

First of March in the Pacific Northwest, finds wild nature in a period of recovery and renewal. Nature’s flowering plants, grasses, and brush, are blessed by the nurturing rains that have fallen, and will continue in this new year. Mighty evergreens are paused, and deciduous trees are at the end of their dormancy. Our vast forests, rejuvenated by this waning period of rest, sense Spring at the horizon, when the skies will open further, and the temperature begins its rise.

Streams begin to come to new life as the snowpacks, high in the frozen cold of the Cascade Mountains, begin their thaw. Rains help to invigorate this life giving flow. This high mountain water is a key source to bring forth the Pacific Northwest’s bounty, from the rich Willamette Valley in Oregon, to the Skagit Valley in northern Washington. Also, Rainbow, Brook, German Brown, and Cutthroat Trout grow active as waters rise and cool as snowmelt blends. Bear, deer, cougar, elk, coyote, big horn sheep, pronghorn antelope, hawk, osprey, eagle; all the varied, plentiful wildlife of our region have begun to wrap their winter rituals. Life in the PacNW wilderness, is stirring.

The opening of our winter’s March nears the end of a peaceful time of rest, before the vigorous pace of restoration begins here in this breathtakingly beautiful region. Spring debuts in March, as does the beginning of Daylight Savings Time. A regenerative calm lies upon the lush land, as nature holds its breath. The season of sky-water, still upon us, has done its masterful best to quench nature’s early thirst, and revivify her energies in this utopia. The fruit, berry, and flower buds soon will burst, and paradise will again take center stage, to begin the glory days of Pacific Northwest Spring. Rains end, the sun comes!

soon fat buds will pop
orchards vines and fields flex deep
Spring rains fall — streams flow

*
rob kistner © 2022

More poetry at:dVerse

 



46 thoughts on “Glory Days”

  2. I love how you describe the coming of spring… it usually comes a little bit later here, but we know that light is coming back which is the most important for me.

    Reply

  4. “A regenerative calm lies upon the lush land, as nature holds its breath.” What a wonderful distillation, Rob. I also love the sunny music of the Fab 4 you chose to accompany.

    Reply

  5. Bang on, brother. Once more our poems could be bookends. I, too, went to the Cascades and discussed the “Ring of Fire”. You, always find such an elegant and eloquent way to describe our beloved forests and mountains. Have you ever checked out the Olympic range?

    Reply

    1. Thank you Glenn! Been to the Olympics a number of times (4 or 5) in the 35 years Kath and I lived in the PacNW, but ironically not in the nearly 7 years we have lived in Washington. Back when Kath and I were both healthy, we’d drive up from Oregon, then head west from Centralia an go the olympic Loop highway. We would usually stay in Forks and tour around the point and down the shores. Cape Flattery, Ozette Lake. we’d hike the Hoh River trail. The Olympic Range area is beautiful brother.

      Reply

  7. Your description of wildlife in your “neck of the woods” sounds beyond beautiful. I would love to see it one day. Thank you for adding some peaceful images to my day, Rob.

    Reply

    1. You are welcome Gayle. After living in, for me, the wrong part of the world for 38 years, I was fortunate to move here to the PacNW. I gave my heart fully to this part of the world 37 years ago, and it has filled it richly. For me, this is where I was finally born, and where I will die — peaceful and fulfilled.

      Reply

  8. As always, beautiful stuff. There’s a wonderful catalogue here, capturing much the same glory of classical poetry and natural observation. It’s universal, but you bring such a personal voice to it. Lovely.

    Reply

    1. Oh, thanks brother! It is just barely beginning here Ron, but it is showing all the signs that early Spring is underway. Temps are up in the 50’s, the soft spring rains are coming and going. I may see another one of my beloved PacNW summers, if my heart is willing to cooperate. Not as much of a guarantee anymore my friend. Oh well, we all get old. 🙂

      Reply

  13. I would usually be all about that description, except it snowed a few days ago. ???? And with this crazy rain, the “streams” are streaming into the workshop. However, the lake is full a month early, so if I can get into my wetsuit (and it isn’t too dry-rotted), spring might come early this year. Intensely descriptive haibun.

    Reply

  15. The awakening…as you show, there is nothing more beautiful than nature… captivating and therapeutic to read, very nicely done..

    Reply

  20. A hopeful popping sound happening here today as I see my first shoots break soil out back. Loved the post, and the music, all together brought a big grin.

    Reply

  21. “The opening of our winter’s March nears the end of a peaceful time of rest, before the vigorous pace of restoration begins here in this breathtakingly beautiful region.”
    Such hope you give. The image of rest rather than death presents quite a different lens as to look through. Happy spring!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *