Hard paddling mallard 

leaves a crooked ice-breaker trail

across the white slushed pasture puddle.

Late planted bulbs battle up

Through record bitter spring

First bloom, barely above ground -

Must be a dwarffodil.

All over the yard

bright threads of spring grass 

poke up out of lightly settled snow.

Dew diamonds glittering among green slivers of spring grass.

Among rusty ponderosa needles and 

delicate blades of new grass

a single yellow bell 

Rolling spring wheat fields

colored eight-crayons-in-a-box green