Spring's Faithful Return
A Poem of Waking
Tell me, does the robin understand
what she is singing about at dawn,
that whole gorgeous insistence of song
rising before the sun has fully committed
to its own return?
🌸
Something has shifted.
You can feel it
moving through the open meadow,
that slow and tender loosening,
as if the earth itself
has exhaled after a long, difficult holding.
🌸
Yesterday there was only shadow.
Today, a crocus. Just one
violet and astonishing,
pushing its bright head up
through cold, reluctant soil,
as if to say I was always here.
I was only waiting.
🌸
And isn't that the whole lesson?
That life does not abandon us,
it simply rests.
That beneath every hard season
something warm and stubborn
keeps its own faithful calendar.
🌸
I walked out this morning,
and the light had changed
softer now, and longer,
full of that burnished gold
that only belongs to March.
🌸
A bee, the first bee, stumbled
through the new warmth
like a creature remembering
what it was made for.
🌸
I stood there.
I let the sun find my face.
🌸
Oh, to be so willing
to simply open,
to rise when called,
to believe, again and again,
that this
all of this
is worth waking for.
About the Creator
Tim Carmichael
I am an Appalachian poet and cookbook author. I write about rural life, family, and the places I grew up around. My poetry and essays have appeared in Beautiful and Brutal Things, My latest book. Check it out on Amazon
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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Comments (13)
"that this all of this is worth waking for." I love this sentence, as well as the whole poem, thankyou for sharing and congratulations on Top Story xx
Beautiful rendering and word usage.
Really enjoyed this. Your writing style is clear and engaging. I’m also writing on Vocal; if you ever have a moment, I’d love if you checked out my profile and followed if my work resonates. Keep it up!
I absolutely love your story it is beautifully written! Your story is so unique and original, it is a master piece. You are one talented writer I really enjoy reading your story. Keep up the good work. Your writing is magical! ♥️🙏
Tim, this is a stunning tribute to the 'faithful calendar' of the heart. As an Engineer and a Poet who has spent time in France and Canada mining for both resilience and diamonds, I found your description of the crocus pushing through 'reluctant soil' deeply moving. It reminds me of the 170 stories I’ve written—the idea that life doesn't abandon us, it just rests. Your imagery of the sun as a commitment is beautiful. I’ll definitely be checking out your work on Amazon; it's inspiring to see a fellow author bridging the gap between books and digital storytelling!
I really love the sweetness that this poem exudes. I've always had the same question myself—how much animals actually understand the sounds they make—but here you express it in such a beautiful way. And yes, nature faithfully keeps its calendar and remains constant, sometimes more constant than people. As for the bee, their swarms will soon envelop us, just as much as love will. And the sun always keeps its embrace open. I really loved your poem; it felt like a sweet breath of fresh air.
The beginning was such an amazing start, it really grabbed my attention, this is def one of the top favs for me, amazing job!
Excellent Tim, congrats on a top top story!
The first bee, the first crocus, so eloquent
I can smell the budding flowers as the air radiates into Spring.
I’m ready for spring!
Beautiful…a reason to be grateful. Lovely poem.
This was lovely to read. Nicely done!