Dobet Gnahoré- Dala

I just cannot seem to get enough of this woman! Been dancing all night :)

Hello Springtime!

Ah spring!  Coming from a country where there are basically only two seasons in the year- a wet season and a dry season- I find that each of the seasons has its own beauty and its own special appeal. However, spring has to be my favourite season of them all. And it's not just because it reminds me that summer is on its way. I simply love the feeling of rebirth that comes with the new buds, the (generally) warmer temperatures and the lengthening days. 

And, my absolute favourite thing about spring? Well, I'd have to say the colours. Maybe it has something to do with the sunshine, or the warmer weather (especially this year) or the multitude of flowers bursting into bloom all over the place, but whatever the case, colours just seem more vibrant at this time of year. 

So, in honour of the season, here's an old poem, written several years ago during my first Spring:

The Springing of Spring

The first days of spring are here

And the birds have returned.

One realizes once again

That insects exist

And the trees are first popping

Then literally bursting

Into life.

The sun,

Which during the months of cold

Seemed little more

Than a shimmering

Dot of a decoration in the sky,

Begins to reacquire its vitality.

The days start

To feel a little longer

And the heart rejoices

As the eye takes in the sight

Of the golden orb

Framed in azure skies.

The river overflows its banks

As the mountain snow

Begins to melt.

Creamy and faded legs

Begin to peek out

From under shorts and miniskirts.

Some of the victims of the long winter

Still show signs

Of the long hard battle;

While some late sleepers

Are yet to change into the garb

Of the new year’s foliage.

The sounds of young life

Fill the air

As nature conducts the first

strains

Of her orchestra that will reach

A fever-pitch crescendo

In the summer.

As God looks down on the waking world,

I wonder if it brings back,

With a tinge of nostalgic reverie,

The days when all was new and clean,

Freshly sprung in to being

At the sound of His melodious voice.

But then maybe it also cheers

His heart as He thinks ahead

To a new world

Where the icy hand of Death

Will never raise a finger

And where the winter

Of the Dark Oblivion

Of a million gaping graves

Will never chill the air

Where children

Will sing and dance and work

With their elders

And the harmony of man and

Nature will never be broken.

Where boredom will be a word

Not to be found

Even in the oldest tome

Of the most ancient dictionary

Of the most antiquated form

Of the language.

I can see that cheering Him

And bringing a radiant smile

To His face.

And I think,

“I want that smile to shine on me

And all I do forever.”

I don’t want to hurt the Father

Who is Life.

May His smile that brings life

Illuminate us and the world!!!