Daffodils

When I read Becca's blog, http://backyardtransliteration.blogspot.com/2009/04/dancing-with-daffodils.html, William Wordsworth's poem popped into my head, “The Daffodils”. Maybe this is because my students have recently read that poem, or maybe because it is one of my favorites. This particular poem always pops into my head around this time of year.

I picture a scene with daffodils that sway, dance, and move in the wind. It is such a refreshing image as the dreariness of winter vanishes once again. Daffodils have become my hope for the arrival of spring.

To be honest, I cannot look at a daffodil without seeing it as a living and breathing object. They are so cheery – their yellow glow pulling smiles from all who notice. Their fragrance chases out the stagnant air of winter. Their durability even in the face of a last minute, surprise snowfall providing encouragement for all to hang on just a little bit longer.

Maybe it’s the eternal optimist coming out or maybe it’s the childlike eagerness anxiously waiting for summer to finally come, but the daffodils help to sooth my mind. They remind me that there is more to life than waking up, going to work, running numerous errands, laundry, cleaning, dishes, then finally sleep once again. The daffodils force me to realize that life is more than stress if I simply step back and breathe.