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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 6, 2021)
Writing for the season Local writers share spring poems In celebration of spring, poets from around the region shared some of their work. Many of these poems celebrate nature and life on the North Coast. Others focus on diffi cult situations the writers have experienced. All provide a small glimpse of spring along the coast. Rippet Road By Reba Owen, of Warrenton Rippet Road runs through a boggy pasture. It was named by numerous frogs who lived and sang along its swampy edges in the spring. Did the frogs think such a name would warn off pickups from spraying sheets of gravel on their smooth green heads? Or did the croakers believe that children would be encouraged to murmur over and over a similar sound that frog themselves invented? The county did not want to have amphibi- ans naming roads; but the web-footed ones hired an attorney and prevailed, in court, over the Commis- sioner’s proposed “Clatsop Boulevard.” Because Spring is Here By James A. Tweedie, of Long Beach, Washington Because spring is here My forehead starts furrowing; Because every year, The moles begin burrowing. How quickly they make piles of dirt on my lawn. Without intervention my lawn would be gone. So, hail and farewell my petite furry friend; With pellets of castor your feasting will end. The smell of the castor will leave you disgusted, I’ve caught you, I’ve got you, so beat it, you’re busted. So, leave me alone; go away and keep going. It’s spring, and with crocus and daff odils showing My lawn’s turning green as the grass begins growing Which means that, too soon, I will have to start mowing. HAIKU SPRING TRIPLET By Jan Bono, of Long Beach, Washington Microcosmic small dots of fresh baby green leaves resurrect our hope Mature foliage will follow, as chlorophyll surges through branches Deciduous trees awaken, restoring faith in a forest form Spring Love By Qin Shi Lian, of Astoria Hearts fl utter to love Vibrational songs sang Look, the signs of Spring are here Yellow daff odils whispers love Here and there Synchronicity of the earthly souls Nature’s music soothes souls Pink lilies and roses Tuned frequency with love blossoms Echoes Of The Wind By Qin Shi Lian, of Astoria Echoes of wind Windy parade alley Love birds gathering, it is Spring Echoes of wind Nature song beckons Come closer it’s time Echoes of wind Rumbling, wailing, swirling romance Calming earth’s heart Echoes of wind Rumbling, wailing, swirling romance Calming earth’s heart Echoes of wind High tides, low tides surging energies Non-stop Echoes of the wind Bringing joy to the soul Like a burning fi re, raging hot Water Spring By Qin Shi Lian, of Astoria Water spring, rain drops cease to end Coastal views, chinook winds to come Earth, all in rapture of nature’s love song Wet and moist Fire heat, spring love no resistance Water spring of love Wind, bellows and roar Romance of the souls Unite in secret pleasures Naselle Dusk By Sarah Johnson, of Naselle, Washington Stand by me a minute, you won’t get cold And it’s almost dark anyways, And see the night drop, slate and blue. Listen; do you hear the strong bird calling Loudly to another, from one alder To the other, from black branches in the dusk, “I loved you all the noisy day But I could not say it.” Now is the time for speaking, Now is the time to sing the dark in, And ask the bent moon: “Why are you Emaciated, on this joyous hour?” But oh, how bright and true its curve Bright as the frogs’ song, true as the meniscus Of a moment brim-full.—Stand by me a minute, See the night come lovingly, Thrust its great arms between the trees. Soon It’ll Spring By Grant Carleton, of Seaside Soon the morning birds will salute— Their rising cadences will ring— Soon the green will be absolute; Soon it’ll spring! Soon the washing waves will warm— Such that sandals will seem inviting— Soon the sun will calm the storm; Soon it’ll spring! Soon the day will usurp the night— A sunny outlook it will bring— Soon dawn and dusk will extend their light; Soon it’ll spring! Soon the throngs of life will return— Oh, how my heart will sing— Soon the ice will melt and the sun will burn; Soon it’ll spring! Soon the seedlings will take root to grow— As buds will soon be blossoming— Soon everything’s fresh nature will show; Soon it’ll spring! Recharge My Heart By Grant Carleton, of Seaside Sunbeams showering hopeful warmth, Gray days pierced by shimmering rainbow forms, Old Man Winter dies as Baby Spring gets to start, All these things recharge my heart. Swirling eddies collect cherry blossom petals, Fitful skies change mind from blissful blue to deadly gunmetal, Searing winds become gentle again as Resilience does its part, And this energy does recharge my heart. 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