Sunday Wonder

For, lo, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth;
The time of the singing of birds is come,
And the voice of the turtle

Is heard in our land

Song of Solomon 2:11-12

* * *

Well . . . I heard a frog in the fountain yesterday, but alas no turtle, yet . . .

Once upon a time, while out planting some spring flowers, I heard a steady-paced munching. As I dug and planted I looked around in wonderment as the feasting continued . . . "Munch, munch, munch . . ." Suddenly I pulled back a leaf and espied a round-shelled turtle happily chomping away on my early-ripening strawberries.

I visited with this fellow on many occasions over the ensuing weeks -- me gardening, he dining (on my garden). He lived in my gardens for quite a spell, having been duly named Mr. Alderman Ptolemy Turtle ("Mr Apt," for short).

Alas, when the pool builders arrived and dug through his munching grounds to install water piping, we captured Mr. Apt and placed him in a kiddie pool for "temporary" safekeeping. He was not amused, nor very forgiving; he escaped the aqua garrison and made off from my gardens never to return -- not even pausing to bid adieu.

I have yet to see another turtle in my gardens, but happily this verse reminds me of "Mr. Apt" and the springtime experience of once hearing the "voice" of the turtle in my land. (*Munch! Munch!*) and hoping to hear it again some wonderful Spring Day.

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* I posted this automatically, as I often do. The sun shone and the flowers danced when I pushed the button. Today I awoke to soft fluffy flakes of snow swirling all around. I shall celebrate spring in my heart as I snuggle by the fire with a mug of cocoa and a Wendell Berry book. Surely there will be no spring turtles sharing their voice in my garden today.