Starved for Spring

Yesterday we had summer in northwestern Ontario. Plus 17 degrees Celcius. I took it and ran with it. I had to pick up pet supplies from the vets so continued along the highway to Centennial Park on the other side of town. There I chose to walk along the railway tracks, lured by their proximity to the raging river, the sound of rushing water, the sparkling glimpses of churning eddies through the trees. Plus less people walked there. Except for an older man with his old black dog who I surprised after I'd detoured close to the river's edge and discovered curling birch bark which excites me no end.

Scrolls of birch bark/ by fast-flowing river/ spring winds as scribes/ Day 89 of #100daysofsybhaiku & day 119 of #100daysofsybwriting on instagram

I apologised to the man and the dog and stood back to let them pass and go ahead of me. Then I ambled along at a good distance behind them. I had passed the man sitting with his dog in the shade of a tall pine at the edge of the park when I entered.  What a gift they were giving each other on this gloriously sunny warm day. When I left the park, there they were again, sitting in the shade, the man resting his old dog, sitting in a cloud of bluish cigarette smoke. 

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As I walked along the tracks, I realised I was devouring the experience. I couldn't get enough of it. Despite wearing a jacket, I felt like all my pores were wide open, absorbing these surroundings and the gorgeous day. I swear at one point my mouth hung open, drinking in the warm fresh air. A greedy guzzling of the day and the park, so starved for spring. The experience will nourish me for days to come.

Wishing you a day that feeds your soul.