Much of the northeast is still gripped by frigid temperatures and snow is still on the ground. Today is my son’s birthday, and I always use this day as a benchmark for hearing the peepers. I really can’t remember a year we haven’t heard them by now. This year, not a peep.
So today seems like a good day to share a poem from Douglas Florian’s Handsprings (Greenwillow, 2006), an exuberant celebration of the season.
Handsprings
Spring is great
For growing grass.
Spring has zing
And spring has sass.
Spring is super.
Spring is spry.
Spring is when
Things start to fly.
Spring is great
For many reasons.
Spring does handsprings
Round the Seasons.
Thank you to Greg Pincus for hosting Poetry Friday today. Don’t miss the fun at GottaBook. As always, thanks to Stacey and Ruth at Two Writing Teachers for hosting this Slice of Life Challenge!
Reading to the Core 
With limited signs of spring around and the forecast for another snow storm next week, I believe many of us will be doing handsprings when the warm spring air arrives.
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Big Douglas Florian fan. I think I’ve talked some kids into being fans too this year.
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As we in far off Australia slide into autumn, spring is still some distance away however, I have a number of Douglas Florian poetry books, so my connection to your chosen poem is strong. Thank you for sharing this seasonal reminder.
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No, spring is not doing handsprings around CT right now. Not even somersaults! Thanks for reminding me of this poem and happy birthday to your son. May you hear the peepers soon!
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Fun poem, Catherine. My favorite was always e. e. cummings’, “In Just Soring”
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Nice to have a bit of Florian today. Spring is definitely being finicky this year. I’m waiting anxiously for those handsprings :).
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The springy sounds of this poem, accompanied by the birdsong around my house bring me hope that spring will soon appear. Thanks!
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We have cold breezes today too – but sun on the daffodil buds! Here’s to SPRING!!
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No sign of spring for us here in Illinois either. I’m getting rather grumpy about it. Thanks for the poem – I have some hope, now. 🙂
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Florian is always brilliant. Here’s hoping spring finds you soon — personally, I’m glad to live in the tropics!
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Indiana is still chillin’ too, with a possible snowstorm on the way for Sunday or Monday. Hey, at least it’s not Easter Sunday… though my husband reminded me that we have had many white Easters over the years. Why didn’t Bing make a movie about THAT? No one would watch, that’s why. 🙂
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This is a fun poem! In Wisconsin we still are not really seeing the signs of Spring yet either. The other night we actually had wind chills below zero and I think it is supposed to snow this weekend. I hope Winter lets up soon and we all can enjoy Spring.
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Fun poem! Last year at this time, tulip leaves were coming out. This year, I really think the weather should check the calendar and get with the program.
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I wish spring would hurry up and bring its zing and sass our way!! Thanks for sharing this poem of HOPE!!!
Cathy
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Thanx so much for sharing my poem!
Douglas Florian
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Thank you! I love your poetry and share it with children all the time.
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Waiting for spring handsprings in Ohio, too!
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