And in the after of dreams
do you whisper why,
as purple shadows hover,
drift, shift, slide, and sigh?
Death-doused year passes,
robins come again, pinked dawn
sings—hope comes, hands clasped
we embrace, sun’s soft shimmer
attracts gathered gulls,
to hear mockingbird perform–
warbles and chatter.
Cruelty of spring
comes in remembrance–lives lost—
but still—daffodils.
First Daffodil of Spring 
Mockingbird in Spring Concert
For dVerse, Grace has asked us to write a seguidilla.
“The Seguidilla is:
• stanzaic, written in any number of 2 part septets. (7 lines)
• syllabic, 7-5-7-5 : 5-7-5 per line. There is a slight pause between L4 and L5 suggesting L4 should be end-stopped.
• rhymed by assonance xAxABxB or xAxABAB. x being unrhymed. True rhyme is generally not used.
• composed with a volta or change in thought between L4 and L5.
• sometimes serves as a conclusion for another verse.”
Yesterday was the anniversary of the declaration of the current pandemic. Last April my mom died of Covid, the same week one of our cats died. But I’m feeling hope in the air with vaccinations and spring weather. Yesterday, our first daffodil of the season bloomed. This morning, I heard a mockingbird putting on quite a concert.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Merrill, I am so sorry for the loss of your mother last year.
Your poem here is beautiful and intricate, capturing life and death … and in between the beauty of the natural world reassuringly there to comfort and console us. I’m glad you got the hear the chorus of birds, see the daffodils. Hugs xx
Thank you for your lovely comment, Annika! I appreciate your kind words. ❤️
Wow – Merril – those last 3 lines just… rocked me.
Shabbat shalom,
David
Thank you so much, David! I’m wowed by your wow! Shabbat shalom to you, as well.
Beautiful! You lifted my hopes and dashed them alternately. A rollercoaster ride ending on top. 😉
What a lovely comment! Thank you very much!
I am so sorry to read about your mother. We are still here waiting for the early blooms.
I love the volta of your septets: Death-doused year passes, and Cruelty of spring. There is a little bit of death, when life comes. I can’t wait for the sounds of birds in spring as well as those tiny buds.
Thank you very much, Grace. I hope you see and hear signs of spring soon.
An acknowledgement of sorrow, and harbinger of hope. Beautifully penned.
Thank you so much, Beverly.
It is difficult to imagine happiness springing from all the pain …. your poem is like a beacon of hope.
What a lovely comment. Thank you, Helen!
Beautifully done, my friend. Sadness but yes. Daffodils.
Yes, and thank you!
🙂
I remember your posts about your mom and your cat and what a sad, dark time that was. Is it ironic that we’re on the edge of spring at the same time vaccinations are finally coming to more people? Both bring so much hope, as does your poem. xoxo
Thank you very much, Marie. I remember walking last spring and being so sad, but still loving the beauty of the flowers and bird song. But things seemed very scary then, and now things seem a bit more hopeful.
Yes, things indeed feel more hopeful now. xox
💙
I am so deeply sorry for your loss, Merril 😦 this is such a gorgeous poem. I resonate with; “Cruelty of spring comes in remembrance.”
Thank you, dear Sanaa! I appreciate your kind words,
“but still”–so poignant. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe.
I had the same reaction to your poem as your other readers. “Death-doused year” will be the objective correlative for time of the pandemic.
Thank you so much, Liz. Sadly, I think you’re right.
You’re welcome, Merril.
‘Death-doused year’ was perfect for me, too – and yet ‘still – daffodils’ looks forward
Thank you so much, Derrick. I’m pleased it spoke to you.
I am so sorry for the losses you suffered.
These are beautiful, well done pieces.
Thank you so much!
Spectacular! Such imagery! 😍
Thank you very much, Colleen!💙
This definitely took some work with the form.
I’m in awe! 😍
😘
A lot of people have lost their loved ones, ‘death doused year’ and I am so sorry for yours’…
Your poem sparks a sprit of hope and it’s beautiful❤️
Thank you so much, Khusi! 💙
I think you aced the assonance here, Merril – definitely not an easy thing to do!
I really like the thought here… when your heart is filled with sorrow spring can almost feel like mockery… but who can deny the daffodil?
Thank you so much, Bjorn. Yes, that’s exactly it.
I am so very sorry for the loss of your mother. This past year has been a time like no other…and yet, as you so beautifully remind us in your poem, the daffodils are blooming and the birds are singing! We will carry on, placing one foot in front of the other. How blessed we are with the beauty that surrounds us in the springtime. The ‘pink dawn’ you speak of, is upon us.
Thank you so very much, Linda, for your kind words. 💙
wow, what a beautiful piece!
Thank you very much!