falling gentle, cool
melting weary piles of snow
first rain of spring-time
__________

I am aware that it is not officially spring. I am also aware that “falling,” being a verb, really requires the adverbs “gently” and “coolly,” but I prefer the way this sounds. The rain that greeted me upon waking was quite different than any we’ve had this year. It contained no latent threat of snow, but rather intimations of spring. I am also not fool enough not to know that March may yet have some snowy surprises for us here in St. Louis. I have too often seen the sad, but also beautiful, sight of Magnolia blossoms laden with snow.