Spring-Mud

Spring-Mud

By John R. Greenwood

Spring-mud dries hard

it coats my shoes,

leaves a trail down the hall,

and tracks across the kitchen floor.

Spring-mud-clumps bring 

fresh excitement for 

sunny days ahead.

Spring-mud is different than 

the muds of summer, fall, and winter. 

It signals the beginning of this

and the end of that. 

Spring-mud is happy mud. 

Stomping children squish it 

beneath their feet, 

smiling playfully—

even a mother’s displeasure 

melts away

replaced with 

a sentimental smile of her own.

Spring-mud smells good. 

Its scent infused with the optimism 

of green lawns, soldiered in dandelions.

Spring-mud footprints leave 

distinct descriptions of their origin.  

Lug-boot impressions let you know 

dad’s across the road in the barn. 

Paw prints turn us into 

animal trackers. 

Size 4 sneakers leave imprints of

pre-school adventurers. 

Spring-mud is joyful 

when you take the time

to read it.