March 27, 2009

Almost

Ground level

My woods are brown still, filled with dead leaves and broken sticks and trees that crashed down under the weight of ice this winter. As I walked the trails this week, I could smell the mud. Some puddles had just the thinnest layer of ice, not even thick enough to make a noise as I stomped through in my boots. The only green I could see was moss: brilliant mosses on old stumps and logs, on any surface raised about the suffocating layer of dead leaves.

But spring is coming. Last night, when the rain stopped, I opened my bedroom window a crack and music came in with a gust of cold air. The spring peepers are singing.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

This whole post is speaking to my yearnings. We're more northerly than you, but the urge to spring is thrumming just under the ice.

YourFireAnt said...

Moss! I love the smell once it warms up a little. Like low tide, like....

Kyla said...

Perfection. That photo took my breath away.

Unknown said...

We trudged over snow and through mud today, and I loved the smell.

Jennifer (ponderosa) said...

Spring peepers! Hooray!

I haven't heard them here yet. Maybe I'll keep my window open a crack tonight.