Childhood's Spring
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(Image courtesy of idreamofjeannemarie.com)
“The maypole dance is a spring ritual long known to Western Europeans. Usually performed on May 1 (May Day), the folk custom is done around a pole garnished with flowers and ribbon to symbolize a tree. Practiced for generations in countries such as Germany and England, the maypole tradition dates back to the dances ancient people used to do around actual trees in hopes of harvesting a large crop. When the British settled in the U.S., they brought the maypole tradition with them.” (Info courtesy of knowreligions.com)
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My childhood memories of spring's return
are filled with butterflies, florets, and ferns,
of saving baby birds who fell from nests
and Maypole dancing, colored ribbon fests.
Those daisy wings above Lantana bush
were cause to thrill me, make my breathing hush.
I caught and cupped them in my gentle grasp
released them with the thrill of, 'free, at last!'
With picnics under prehistoric ferns,
so lush and huge, like caves at every turn,
safeguarding from the heat of sun's midday
and safe from prying eyes in every way.
While all of nature showed her very best,
but sometimes nestlings fell away from nests.
At times I rescued them, put them in a box
and fed them, kept them safe from cats and hawks.
When strong enough, the mom would soon stop by
to teach them and show them how to fly.
I sometimes wished I could take it upon myself
to train them and show them how to soar themselves.
A favorite memory is Maypole's dance
around the pole with colored ribbons pranced
with sights and sounds and smells of spring around,
tall stems of hollyhock, sweet pea abound
Copyright © Sara Etgen-Baker | Year Posted 2024
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