THE AWAKENING

“Wake up sleepy head,” whispers Spring. “The awakening is near. It’s time to come forth.” The slumbering earth tosses about and with blinking eyes squints at the bright sun. She huskily whispers back, “Oh, dear, is it time already?’ The old girl, snoring lazily and still drowsy from a long winter’s nap, has awakened. She stretches and yawns and throws back the last blanket of snow only to reveal tender green shoots of life. Her season of slumber is over, and through the warmth of the sun comes the promise of the awakening, the new beginning—Spring. Daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses, and tulips have been stirring under the thawing ground and are now peeking through. Their curled leaves gracefully unfold and their delicate blossoms splatter a vibrant array of color on earth’s pallet. The once lifeless bulbs have aroused and have come forth. “Wake up sleepy head,” whispers Spring again—this time with a gentle nudge. The old girl, still a bit tired and wanting to drift off into the land of nod, awakens, yawns, and hesitantly whispers, “It’s spring. It’s spring. Awake all you sleepy heads. It’s time to come forth for it’s really spring!”