Spring 2025

Spring came late in Devon this year. After damaging winter storms, there was a long period of cold, dull and dry weather, followed by dry sunny weeks. At last spring arrived with its array of daffodils, primroses, bluebells and trees coming into leaf and flower. It was uplifting to experience it this year, especially in view of all horrors seen on international news, (manmade and natural).

The arrival of spring this year reminded me of the French classes I used to attend before lockdown. Our excellent teacher used to set homework for us. At a class in spring, she asked us to write something in our best French about that season. I thought of writing happy poem about wandering about among the daffodils (but that had already been done by Wordsworth). Instead I combined the beauty of spring with my fears about climate change in a poem titled "Spring-time on Mars".

Here is a loose translation in English. In French I was able to use a play on words with “Rouge-gorge” (the robin in French) and red gorges on Mars. This does not transfer to English. If you would like to read my original in French, please let me know via this website.

Springtime on Mars

There is no spring on the red planet.

You won’t see the primrose there, or the golden daffodil,

Or trees green in new leaf.

You won’t hear birdsong,

From blackbird, song thrush, and redbreast.

On Mars the whole terrain is red,

Red in mountain, valley and plain.

But Red Planet are you holding a secret,

The secret of your previous life?

Perhaps you were home to abundant life

And glorious spring in days gone by,

Then destroyed by a changed climate,

Catastrophic and caused by the cruel nature.

On Earth, we see the wonder called spring

Without fail: a miracle

Bringing back life and hope

After the long winter slumber.

For animals, birds, trees and flowers

And for mankind,

This is a true renaissance on

Our planet of blue and green.

We must cherish and protect it,

Or else by deed or inaction,

We will destroy its fragile climate.

The glory of spring will be no more.

Instead for all life on Earth destruction

By hurricane, flood and wildfire.

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