18 Comments
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Weston Parker's avatar

It is always a poignant thing when a crocus or any flower comes out too soon and we know it will be buried under feet of snow.

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Brian Funke's avatar

At least where you live! It’s quite rare in Missouri to see any snow the last 10 years after any flowers bloom…but I do love the crocus’s. First flash of color after the brown of winter.

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Weston Parker's avatar

Me too. We are moving to Connecticut in summer of 2025. Just in time because hours of shoveling snow is no longer much joy at 65.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

There's a part of me that feels sad for the flowers when this happens. Like I want to scream at them "NO, YOU'RE TOO SOON! RETREAT!"

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Weston Parker's avatar

Exactly.

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Neil Barker's avatar

I like the imagery and visuals of these contrasting lines:

"and I take that step outside

and walk to that winter place

where I was surprised by spring."

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Brian Funke's avatar

Thanks Neil!

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just mud by Ron's avatar

It reads like a dream, Brian. That winter place.

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Brian Funke's avatar

Thank you 🌙

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Patris's avatar

How gentle this hard poem is. Hope and resignation, exhaustion and faith. Mother will take us to our limits before she’ll offer anything.

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Brian Funke's avatar

It’s a little bit of all of it, isn’t it? Thanks for reading Patris!

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Patris's avatar

My garden looked like the aftermath of a nuclear strike until a few days ago..

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Nathan Slake's avatar

This closing and the gap before the final line:

~~~

I am standing in a ruinous field,

winter fog enveloping destruction

and my fruitless hunt.

No flower grows here.

~~~

I'm finding it hard to articulate what it is that captures me so much here. I think it's the winding calm that comes before this moment.

Stunning poem, Brian. Sorry I can't offer more than that right now.

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Brian Funke's avatar

Thanks Nathan. The ride for me is calm reminiscing, desire, frantic search, grief. I always appreciate you commenting!

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Carolyn Jones's avatar

Stunning imagery. The crocus is used as a great foreshadowing tool! Excellent words!

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Brian Funke's avatar

Thank you for being here!

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Daniel Henderson's avatar

That final line is beautifully haunting.

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Brian Funke's avatar

Thanks Daniel. I felt the same, glad you felt it too!

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