Now.

Shepard, Ratty's Picnic, 1908

Spring is upon us right about ... now.

EARLY SPRING

The Spring is come, and Spring flowers coming too,

    The crocus, patty kay, the rich hearts' ease;

The polyanthus peeps with blebs of dew,

    And daisy flowers; the buds swell on the trees;

    While oer the odd flowers swim grandfather bees

In the old homestead rests the cottage cow;

    The dogs sit on their haunches near the pail,

The least one to the stranger growls "bow wow,"

    Then hurries to the door and cocks his tail,

To knaw the unfinished bone; the placid cow

    Looks o’er the gate; the thresher's lumping flail

Is all the noise the spring encounters now.

John Clare