leapday

.


february, please...
you are short for a reason
must we drag this out?


.

seasons

march (<=7)

new life springing forth
equal parts sunlight and sleep
little shoots stand up



april (8-14)

early blossoming
promise of the coming heat
growing greedily



may (15-21)

everything's in flower
peak of physical beauty
barely any fruit



june (22-28)

all is leafing out
shape the new growth with a shears
show it where to branch



july (29-35)

fruit begins to form
long summer days burn with heat
plants work overtime



august (36-42)

surface soil goes dry
healthy roots bring moisture up
heat matures the fruit



september (43-49)

ripening occurs
pests can come and spoil the fruit
must be on our guard



october (50-56)

hardest part is done
now we can taste the sweetness
that the harvest brings


november (57-63)

time to gather in
put up and bottle the fruits
of a life's hard work



december (64-70)

produce in the barns
fire on hearth with friends around
celebrate life lived



january (71-77)

carryover glow
fades to cold and snowy white
winter settles in



february (78-84+)

dark and cold and brief
earth without vitality
waiting for new life



(now i lay me down to sleep; and when i wake... it will be spring)

vegetables by any other name

.


eggplant and soybeans
aubergine and edamame
don't they taste the same?


.

(or does everything taste better in French?)