dirt road, forest, spring-4103668.jpg

Mid-March in Chepstow

The ivy and the holly

That stood on guard through the long winter

And held out in the hard times

Are now pushed aside by the brash young green

Of hazel and of ash,

Eager to show off their new beauty

And careless of all duty done

By others

Through the long cold nights.

 

The beech meanwhile keeps all her children round her.

She did not let them fly off with the oak leaves

In the windy autumn,

However much they wished to go.

She now waits for the new brood to hatch and grow,

At last

To take their brothers’ places.

 

However cold the nights

And dull the days,

As slow March plods along,

Spring will come,

And winter will take a rest.