A big snowstorm might be headed for my Mid-Atlantic state of New Jersey. I love snow, in fact, we have a few inches on the ground now. I can look out my second-story window as I write this, and see a coating of white on all the outdoor birdhouses and roofs.

I found a photo of a rose arrangement from my garden in the archives. The soft pinks lifted my spirits; I remembered a captivating quote from a poem I especially love and combined the two. I’ve included the poem, written by Oliver Hereford (1863-1935). I want to take a few moments today and look up a few additional poems he wrote. He seems to capture the shared hopes of those who long for Spring.

I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.

“We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,”
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.

~Oliver Hereford