Magic on a Dull Day
You wake to darkness, the norm of late, as these wintry days fail to lengthen at the speed you would wish. Surfacing from the cosiness of the duvet seems like utter torture at this point, but you roll out nonetheless.
Hot breakfast is a must, never mind how many jumpers you’ve already draped about you, and as you curl yourself around your second steaming coffee, the day finally begins to dawn, and creep into the corners of the window.
The patch of light is colourless, dull, grey - with the promise that the day to come will be much the same. Will it rain? Perhaps. But it seems to be an entirely nothing sky at this point, no dramatic clouds or flights of birds in sight.
The dog is hinting at your knee so you head to the fields regardless, intending to keep your mind firmly in the warm kitchen while the dog has her fun.
When you step outside the day is as dull and cold as expected. You wrap your scarf tightly across your face to save it from the biting chill. A flash of purple reaches your eye, but you’re dragged along too quick to try a second glance.
The footpath ahead is hidden by a crowd of trees, but even their evergreen garb has lost its lustre today. And yet…
As you step beneath a low branch a riot of colour fills your vision: the crocuses have arrived!
A sea of purple and gold lays at your feet and your heart can’t help but warm at the sight. What is it about the sight of these first flowers that can bring such joy? Perhaps it is because, despite the cold, they have fought their way through the frosty earth to bring a touch of magic to a dull and otherwise grey day.
You stay with this vibrant scene far longer than you thought the cold would allow, and as you finally start the return to home, the rest of the world seems brighter too.
I wrote this after stumbling across my first crocus this year. Despite only finding one lonely bloom, it really made my day!