Saturday, 25 April 2026

The Spices of Disguise

by Nick Gisburne



Awakened, watching spring confront the cold,
As winter, fast forgotten, fades, she flies.
She laughs as life, electric green and gold,
Surrounds her with the spices of disguise.
In summer she’s a butterfly, a bird,
A bee, collecting nectar for the hive.
She listens to their language, word by word,
And vows to keep their mysteries alive.
At last, the leaves and seeds begin to fall.
Their colours blaze with glorious goodbyes.
The showers turn to snow. The seasons stall.
The sun does not remember how to rise.
    She sheds her fur and feathers, makes a wish,
    And spends the wilds of winter with the fish.