By: Joan Leotta

 

The earth and sun aligned today
To bring an end to winter.

The sun pushed through gloomy gray winter’s sky
Painting a wide swath of blue between the sun and greening lawns

Robins and cardinals are back from winter holiday
Joined sparrows swarming
In search of the crumbs and seeds.

Spring is the touchstone to my Grandma
The equinox was her day.
She was
Queen of our rites of spring
We ate lemon cake with her,
“Bright as the springtime sun,” she’d say,
“And tasty too.”

Our homemade gifts and cards
Brought smiles and hugs
“Your being here is the best gift,” she would say.

I was sure that her birthday
Brought the spring.
Banishing winter’s gray with the tang of yellow lemon cake

Winter took her from us
One day some time ago.

In the Equinox alignment we call Spring
I still hear Grandma’s laughter in the chirping of the birds she loves.
I see her smile in every blossom
And the warmth of the springtime sun.
I taste her love in lemon cake
On her special day.

Winter is gone.
My heart need not sorrow,
As long as there is spring.

 

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Bio: 

My “motto” is to bring to others, “Encouraging words through pen and performance.”
Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pa, my Grandmother was a primary influence, telling stories, encouraging me in all that I did, and giving to others through her volunteer work and constant attention to family.
After working as an economist and planner for the US Department of Labor, I married and then stayed home with the children. As a stay-at-home Mom, I developed my twin careers of storytelling and writing to fulfill the call to bring encouraging words to others and have been doing so for almost thirty years.  I’ve written (and published)  books and hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles and told stories before audiences all over the East Coast, fitting it into family and volunteer life and trying to always craft my stories, both written and oral, in a way to encourage others.
Each spring, a time for renewal, my thoughts turn to my first inspiration–my Grandma, whose birthday coincided with the spring equinox.