Spring (lente) has arrived in the Netherlands. Though not the spring of our friends in Atlanta whose legs are already peeking out under skirts and shorts into weather in the mid-70s or of our friends and family in the Northeast who only now are beginning to thaw. Rather, here, the daylight hours have already drastically increased – the time change much more prominent at these higher latitudes – and the sun has begun to shine once again. At 60 degrees (*F) we throw off our winter woolens, allowing the Dutch sun to touch our skin for the first time for nearly half a year. In the park near our home spring flowers have begun to peek up through the earth, seeking the sunlight, and, before long, the wild rabbits will appear again at dusk.
“Today” by Billy CollinsIf ever there were a spring day so perfect,so uplifted by a warm intermittent breezethat it made you want to throwopen all the windows in the houseand unlatch the door to the canary’s cage,indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,a day when the cool brick pathsand the garden bursting with peoniesseemed so etched in sunlightthat you felt like takinga hammer to the glass paperweighton the living room end table,releasing the inhabitantsfrom their snow-covered cottageso they could walk out,holding hands and squintinginto this larger dome of blue and white,well, today is just that kind of day.
Interesting images.