Green Leaves
The leaves have come, unfurled and green,
Springing to life on all the trees
That few weeks since were bare and grey,
Till bursting forth from peeping buds
The green leaves came.
They do this loyally each spring.
We should not doubt that they will come
Or grieve the winter barrenness
And yet so much is different
In this last year.
But they have sprung from hopeful buds,
Goldfinches dart amongst the fronds
And cheep and cheer and flit and fly.
So we can too, in seasons safe,
Renew our hope.
I wrote this poem in May 2021, after a long bleak period or winter and lockdown. I was walking along the street and suddenly noticed that all the leaves had come out on surrounding trees, making everything green and fresh. I saw in this renewal of life and the seasons a renewal of hope for humanity, that, despite the pandemic the seasons still moved on; there was new life and new hope.
Although I was born and bred in Yorkshire, I came to Coventry to study English and American Literature at the University of Warwick a long time ago and have lived or worked in the city for most of the time since. I married a Coventrian and we settled in the city and have three children. I work part time for the Civil Service. As well as writing, my spare time is spent on church and community activities, reading, going for walks with my family, fending off weeds and badgers on our allotment, and trying to grow lemons.
