Friday, April 1, 2011

A-Z Challenge ... APRIL 2011



I am so glad the A-Z challenge is this month because it just happens to be my favorite month. Not only was I born in April, but so many wonderful people I know have also been born this month.
So without further ado, let my get on with my A entry. I hope you all enjoy it. 

APRIL
A glint of green fights its way through a cold, hard shell. At first, unnoticeable. But as the sun shines a single pointed grass-like leaf stretches to the sky. What could it be? 
A day or two passes. Droplets of rain drowns the leaf, as more spears of green, bisected by white, breaks the muddy surface. Have you guessed?
The sun returns along with three stems, each topped with a tiny bud. It shall take several more days to reveal itself to us, but it's worth the wait. Surely you know?
A ray of light warms our sleeping beauty and within a few hours a miracle occurs. One bud pops, announcing lavender petals pointed with amethyst. The sextuplet surrounds three fuzzy, golden fingers holding a fiery center. Soon the others will follow in equal splendor. 
If you guessed our first flower of spring is the crocus ... you are right!

HAPPY APRIL EVERYONE!




37 comments:

mooderino said...

I had no idea it was a crocus, but I do now. Very nice post (and cool picture).

regards
mood
Moody Writing Blog

Margo Benson said...

Aww, that's lovely! April is a pretty month - like the graphic too, so tranquil.

Unknown said...

I love your photo! I hope you have a wonderful April as well.

Heather M. Gardner said...

I wish we were experiencing that right now but it's snowing at my house.
Drat.
Happy April!

Summer Ross said...

I'm not good with flower names- so I knew it was a flower- does that count- LOL

Have a great day!

baygirl32 said...

Happy April!

I'm stopping by from the A to Z challenge to say hello.

http://baygirl32.blogspot.com

Southpaw said...

I was so excited to see the crocus blooming this week, and then today it snowed.

A-Z Fellow Challenger
Holly Ruggiero’sPOV

Margo Kelly said...

Great post and awesome picture! And yes, great people were born in April - - like my husband! :)

Arlee Bird said...

I figured it was a flower, but since I don't know plants very well I didn't know what kind. Very nice.

Lee
Tossing It Out
Twitter hashtag: #atozchallenge

Donea Lee said...

Beautiful! There's a local tulip festival that starts on Apr. 15th, (crocuses, too) and I can't wait!

And yay for April Bdays! :)

Ann said...

Mother Nature's colourful herald to Spring the beautiful crocuses, tulips and daffodils.

Jessica Bell said...

Wow, your writing is fantastic! :o)

Jessica @ The Alliterative Allomporph

Golden Eagle said...

Beautiful writing!

I love the picture.

Unknown said...

Awesome writing in this creative post. I loved this sentence, in particular: The sextuplet surrounds three fuzzy, golden fingers holding a fiery center.

(Early) Happy Birthday! You'll let us know that exact date, right? :))

erica and christy said...

How'd you get the picture to do thAt????? Lovely. My dAd wAs born in April Also. :0) hAppy eArly birthdAy. we'll hAve to hAve a big blog bAsh for the occAsion. christy

Roland D. Yeomans said...

As Jessica said, Michael, you out-did yourself with this first A thru Z entry. Have a healing weekend, Roland

Misha Gerrick said...

Loved your post. The description was very well done.

Good luck with b-z!

:-)

Francine Howarth said...

Hi,

Kinda guessed the outcome with such a gorgeous image, and fab description! ;)

best
F

Nicki Elson said...

I just ran to my window to check, and yep! I've got one blooming. Beautiful poem, Michael, and a great way to start the fest. :)

Nicki Elson said...

P.S. Happy April, birthday brother. ;)

Maude Lynn said...

Excellent!

Linda Gray said...

Love crocuses! Croci? They do herald spring and give hope, even in cold climates. Thanks for this lovely post.

Susan Oloier said...

I love your post. Also the pic--especially since the deer just ate all of my crocuses :-(
Happy Birthday Month!

The Words Crafter said...

And what a beautiful photo you got to match your post!!! Perfect timing, too, since today was the first day we've seen sunshine here. It's been chilly...looking forward to some more April :)

Denise Covey said...

Hi MIchael. Can't get over that shimmering crocus. How beautiful. And it doesn't seem long since you were posting about snow in Chicago. I guess you'd appreciate that first little green shoot.

Thanks for taking a trip to Oz and walking on the wild side. This challenge is fun.

Denise<3

nutschell said...

What an awesome picture! And I love April, too. I'll be celebrating my birthday this month as well! Happy birthday to us!

Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com

Hart Johnson said...

Very nice, Michael! I love crocuses... croci? croquet? not, that's not right... In Portland we used to get snow drops earlier, but I suppose that was technically winter--they are a February flower there.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Beautiful photograph! I can tell you don't live in Virginia because the crocus appears much earlier here--early March, I think!

Happy writing,
Monti
MaryMontagueSikes

jkraus8464 said...

Beautifully done. Such sensitivity. Love the picture of the crocus. I enjoyed your A passage.

Lisa Potts said...

What a beautiful way to start the challenge. Looking forward to the remainder of the month.

Anonymous said...

Happy April!

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

I'm anxiously awaiting signs of spring here in NE Iowa. I love Crocus and your reflecting pool was awesome!

Jeff Beesler said...

Happy birth month, Michael! I couldn't have ever figured out the flower you presented us with, but you certainly made it a colorful challenge!

Anonymous said...

I did not know. But its a beautiful flower. My kids like the image too. Great start to the A to Z Challenge. Have a great weekend!

Brenda Drake said...

A is for AWESOME, Michael. Since I don't have the time to participate in the A to Z challenge, I've decided to live vicariously through you and do an A to Z comment on your blog each day of the challenge. Awesome, right? :D

Erin Kane Spock said...

Happy Birthday. So, are you Aries or Taurus?

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! :O)