Near Kilpeck, February

Leaves slip through the mud – unnoticed
– anonymous to untrained eye,
‘til the flowers open by and by:
first the pioneering buds appear
on snowdrop spear
which swell and grow,
break open as a drop of snow
to shimmer, shiver in the icy breeze
– and in our Marches*, carpets, rugs adorn
the verges, wood floors – by the winter shorn
of summer’s bounty
– delightful scenes in February bleak
that spark excitement, seem to speak
of coming riches soon,
and
dropping down to see a single bloom
– what beauty!

* = border of England and Wales – Herefordshire and Shropshire I'm commenting on

[This week's IP: ‘the first shoots of Spring]

I did something on this awhile ago that was enjoyed, though I keep meaning to put a more suitable picture on it now that I should be able to find ones of my own!:
https://www.abctales.com/story/rhiannonw/slowly-emerging-january-march