Leafing Out

Posted on April 24, 2008
Filed Under Language, River Notes |

There ought to be a name for the day, in temperate climates, that the trees leaf out. (It would not be the same date each year & it would come earlier the further south one went.) Here in St. Lawrence County, that day was yesterday. The world went from shades of gray & brown to shades of green. The birches are & willows are an intense yellow-green, the maples a kind of dusky green, except for the species that leafs out first bright red, then goes green as chlorophyll  pumps into the leaves. The roadsides have gone from dust & plow gravel to grass overnight. As I say, there ought to be a name for this particular day of each year.

Comments

4 Responses to “Leafing Out”

  1. swissmiss on April 25th, 2008 1:50 am

    It just happened here as well - I was just writing in my journal yesterday that it’s as though faeries come and dressed the trees in leaves overnight. You’re right - there should be a name for it.

  2. Shelley on April 25th, 2008 7:02 am

    “The opening of allergy season”

  3. Peter on April 25th, 2008 11:21 am

    For William

    As night
    earthbound
    birthed by a stone
    which it floats
    sails your love
    lifting
    swift with its stars
    day’s disappearance.

    As shore
    I drift from
    hurrying impossibly
    pounding and pounding
    bloom your rescues
    flames in twigs
    anxious to hold
    the invisibly living.

    As one
    gone out
    each morning toward someone
    who won’t return
    enter your leaves
    their green
    their heart-breaking green
    again.

  4. jd on April 26th, 2008 6:52 am

    Shel, yes. I woke up with allergy eyes this morning, alas.

    Peter, another lovely poem — different in form & tone from your usual contributions.