_{OPEN YOUR HEART TO SPRINGTIME!}

refreshes heavy hearts

comforts weary souls 

- Ramona Behnke  

On the light rail with bored travelers, 
The trees are greening up, 
for they know the assignment when
It’s almost 50, & light rain in Seattle. 

Two more stops before we arrive
and now, just like that, it’s heavy
rain with some added hail while we walk. 
Is there anything more predictable?

Soon I’ll get to hold my grandson; 
And soon after that he’ll be grown. 
But for today, he’s still 3 and holdable. 
Yes, for this is April. Nothing cruel here. 

Greening trees in the spring.
The Pope opining about theology. 
And all will be well with the world. 
Shall we do without hope?*

against a glorious sky

spring's gift renewed

©CVarsalona, 2026

nature's beauty calms the mind

red sky at dawn

©Derek Varsalona, 2026

Sparkling clear water 
Ordinary Mason jar
Flowers, all colors 
Tuck in with wild profusion
Set in sunshine- work of art

(Draft, Diane Anderson, 2026)

Thank you to Margaret Simon for organizing this year's Progressive Poem, Irene Latham for her inspiration to be the founder of this National Poetry Month Project, and each poet who added her golden line on the designated date during National Poetry Month.

By Patricia J . Franz

And still everywhere the little lives,

still bulbs bearing winter’s weight

–everywhere, nowhere, somewhere–

the seed wakens; re-members sun to soil.

Little do we know the stem’s strength. It

lives in us, too–– yearning to be whole.

*And still everywhere the little lives

taken from “Mouth of the Canyon,” by Traci Brimhill

with seeds planted by each poet

creative minds bud

Thank you to each nature-loving poet who graced this vivacious gallery padlet. - Carol Varsalona

Wood carts of old with tired wheels wait

wondering which royalty

will weigh them down

soon, sturdy-stacked.

Disappearing Magic Hurricane Lily

Hammock Sweet Azalea

Blue-eyed Grass

Bee Balm

Birdsong Nature Center shelters

once common

now uncommon

verdure.

words & poem JGAnnino