Comment from zanya

Excellent

Oh how I truly envy you in the Southern Hemisphere entering into the joys of Spring - most beautiful season of the year !your poem exudes a sense of sheer joy at the prospect !

 Comment Written 25-Sep-2016

---

reply by the author on 26-Sep-2016

Hi Zanya, nice to meet you and share the joys of spring down- under. Thank you for sharing this poem!

Yes! Spring is a real delight around our world, certainly for us in the colder, southern areas of Australia; and where Northern hemisphere plants add extra delight, exuberance, and diversity to our city and urban gardens receiving good rainfall in spring, and nurturing all around. Community spirit and beauty able to balance environmental consciousness, time and watering bills! Flood or famine is increasing here, like over so much of the world, even the Green Isle once called home.

My garden is a special delight this year, and inspired the sequel to this; and surprises and new challenge, growth, and hope for change which is the privilege of my destiny. It was a quick poem, not promoted as I intended to move into a busy week. But surprise, surprise! It magically doubled overnight, and blossomed into an unexpected new challenge for the day, so I think I?ll promote it ? double or not ? and grow with its reflections and reviews through the week. I hope you might take a look, and perhaps at the reviews that captured by adventure through the day! And, over the week I shall look forward to browsing your work too. Blessing of colour and joy, Maureen*&*

reply by the author on 26-Sep-2016

Hi, thank you, for adding new delight to my basking!

Back in `me ol country? they are busy hay making and preparing for winter too, while I am delighting in my first `English daffodils?! Spring is slow in Melbourne, this year; indeed, Southern Australia?s more peopled areas where rainfall gardens blest by multicultural immigrants of global diversity. The slowness seems to have prolonged the flowers fattening underground, all as ready to burst forth with the sun I am to greet them; and make the most of `basking?, before the next storm ? or challenge!

You might like to read the sequel to this. Called `My Garden,? it generated unsuspected surprises and new growth. Therefore, I plan to promote it ? maybe as a single, rather than double bloom ? and integrate my new growth through a busy week nourished by reflections and reviews. In that light, I look forward to browsing your site, Maureen*&*

Comment from Pantygynt

Excellent

It's all right for some. You may be basking in spring sunshine but back in the old country we are getting ready for winter. The autumn is beginning to kick in and the temerature its dropping daily. Nice little sprintime ditty this. All right for some.

 Comment Written 25-Sep-2016

---

reply by the author on 26-Sep-2016

Hi, thank you, for adding new delight to my basking!

Back in `me ol country? they are busy hay making and preparing for winter too, while I am delighting in my first `English daffodils?! Spring is slow in Melbourne, this year; indeed, Southern Australia?s more peopled areas where rainfall gardens blest by multicultural immigrants of global diversity. The slowness seems to have prolonged the flowers fattening underground, all as ready to burst forth with the sun I am to greet them; and make the most of `basking?, before the next storm ? or challenge!

You might like to read the sequel to this. Called `My Garden,? it generated unsuspected surprises and new growth. Therefore, I plan to promote it ? maybe as a single, rather than double bloom ? and integrate my new growth through a busy week nourished by reflections and reviews. In that light, I look forward to browsing your site, Maureen*&*

Comment from Irish Rain

Excellent

This is lovely as it pertains to your new growth yourself, and to your looking forward to Australia's spring. I myself....am loving the beginning of autumn here, and I hope we get blizzards this winter! Enjoy your spring!!! Blessings....

 Comment Written 24-Sep-2016

---

reply by the author on 24-Sep-2016

Hi and thanks! Yes! I love autumn here in OZ too; especially the city colouring of all the chosen imported trees that gift visions of many lands, plus their vibrant bronzing colours. I must say I?m glad blizzards remain in the land of vision too generally here; although many areas are flooded, whilst I am glorifying in the produce of good rain, and full water bins to nourish the growth and flowering of spring and summer. I?ll hope to explore your work, and maybe feel your love of autumn or bite of a blizzard. Sunday blessings, Maureen*&*

reply by Irish Rain on 25-Sep-2016

Thank you, have a lovely Sunday!!!!

reply by the author on 25-Sep-2016

And new week quickly following! Thanks again, Maureen*&*

Comment from simmonska

Average

I like the joy and the elation and that it was written just for the FanStory audience.
I would have appreciated the poem more had it been shared in the Spring vs Fall season.
Consider revising the choice(s) of background and font color---the current ones make it VERY hard to read and instead of relaxing to read about a light n airy subject I angrily sped through b.c my eyes hurt
Also consider dropping the use of a capital letter to start each line, it interrupts the flow of thought, of the poems joy
Thank you for sharing your creation and passion for Spring!

 Comment Written 24-Sep-2016

---

reply by the author on 24-Sep-2016

Hi, from down-under! Where I am greeting our Victorian spring in Melbourne, Australia; although I grew up, and still have family in England, so different seasons tend to merge and intensify, or contrast. Yet the joy, freshness and elation rising out of the struggles of winter inspired this poem, and I am thrilled it caught your attention. Thanks.

Sadly, the colours challenged me from the beginning; and in general, I still have much to learn both artistically, and in use of the tools available; but that is a major blessing of this site. And, being in the East of Australia we are the first to be greeted by the new day, so fellow Aussie DD actually inspired my editing to grey, but unfortunately many like yourself had struggled before then. I?m so sorry.

And, thank you also for the suggestion that I drop the capital first letter; I think more habit and the fact my computer does that automatically ? I am technically limited too, and a slow learner.

In all, I thank you for a very helpful and gently nurturing review; as well reinforcing of my passion for the creative new flowerings and elation of spring. I think I?ve used my nominations for this month, but if not it will be my privilege to honour your effort here; or hopefully, a review you needn?t put such effort into in the future. My thanks, Maureen*&*

Comment from Poetic Friend

Excellent

It is refreshing to read a poem with a spring metaphor as it's autumn in America.

Your poem is packed with beautiful imagery visual and sensory imagery. I love the references to Fanstory, reviews and the 'new' you.

 Comment Written 24-Sep-2016

---

reply by the author on 24-Sep-2016

Thank you, Poetic Friend, so much for the `new me?, feeling so blest and reinforced. I?ve even changed my colours (font) so it?s not such a struggle for those so honoring me with such encouraging, and strengthening feedback. Such blessings have really rewarded my winter struggles and gift confidence FanStory is the garden for another harvest; down under in Melbourne, Australia. Sunday blessings, Maureen*&*

Comment from Teri7

Excellent

This is a very beautiful poem you have penned my friend! I love the idea of where you live as well. The descriptive wording and imagery was great. A joy to read and review. hugs, Teri

 Comment Written 24-Sep-2016

---

reply by the author on 24-Sep-2016

Thanks Terry, yes it is good to write from down-under, as Melbourne, Australia greets spring, without the floods that are inundating several areas. And, the miracle of new life, its beauty and hopes are wonderful metaphors for the joy of greeting a new FanStory year afresh; and rewards for my working with the struggles of winter.

Sorry the font colour turned out `not what I imagined from the packet?. Thanks to suggestions it is now a happy grey. Happy Sunday, Maureen*&*

Comment from Sandra du Plessis

Excellent

A very well-written uplifting and inspiring poem about the new season of Spring coming to refresh and renew our lives again.

 Comment Written 24-Sep-2016

---

reply by the author on 24-Sep-2016

Hi Sandra, thanks! Yes! I do think nature and nurturing of the different seasons becomes more and more relevant as we get older, and the main focuses of family and community are focused around birth and nurturing its harvest, while summer of the nurturers fades. Such concepts of I will flower into new varieties of creative beauty this year. A special thanks, and Sunday blessings, Maureen*&*

Comment from BeasPeas

Excellent

Hi Maureen. This is a wonderful poem. Clearly written and upbeat, easy to understand, hopeful and full of good cheer.

Important -- Suggest that you change either the color of the background or the color of the font. Right now your poem is almost impossible to read. Marilyn

 Comment Written 24-Sep-2016

---

reply by the author on 24-Sep-2016

Thank you for your applaud of this poem, Marilyn. I feel it was inspired as appreciation for your diligent nurturing. So sad about the colour, I selected forest green, and initially thought the grey result was OK. DD suggested a dark grey would work well, and certainly was the best choice I felt on review. Sorry, I did not get around to reworking it straight away, but I would love you to take another look, and accept a special bouquet as thanks from me. Sunday, blessings, Maureen*&*

Comment from PoemsOfDD

Excellent

Maureen, a most enjoyable poem - embracing spring and embracing the new you. A journey that unfolds like the bloom of a new flower. Nicely written and I love the picture you have attached. My only comment would be to bold font the colour grey against your chosen colour background. Thank you for sharing. ~DD

 Comment Written 24-Sep-2016

---

reply by the author on 24-Sep-2016

Yes! I agree about the colour and I?ll aim to change it. It was supposed to be a dark green; but sadly some colours don?t seem to work against colored backgrounds, and one can be left with black or white. If you have any hints I?d treasure them. Most people do well with what is, but I find it inconsistent. Here this actually seemed a reasonable fit before I released it but I do agree. It needs changing, and it and fonts I need to work on. In this case grey seems a good alternative to the green. Thanks so much. I am thrilled you connected the metaphors to my new year. Thank you, Maureen*&*

Thanks so much. Changed, but unfortunately too late for some*&*

Comment from royowen

Excellent

We've had a particularly cold wet winter, and every now and then, a nice warm day. Enough to get that brief taste of new life. There's no doubt that Spring is the beginning of the seasons. Well done, beautifully expressed work, descriptive imagery is great, nice language and flow, well done, Maureen, blessings. Roy

 Comment Written 24-Sep-2016

---

reply by the author on 24-Sep-2016

Yes! The cold kept spring maturing long in the ground this year, and rain its extra vivid and welcome arrival, just in time for my welcome home from holidays. So much symbolism for nurturing new growth within and around! Have a great Sunday, Roy. Blessings, Maureen*&*

reply by royowen on 24-Sep-2016

You too Mauren

reply by the author on 24-Sep-2016

Thanks, Sunday blessings and joy, Maureen*&*

reply by the author on 24-Sep-2016

Oh Roy, I'm re-working the font and colours, and will be thrilled if you'll take another look and give me a comment on your view; plus any suggestions. Thanks if you have time, Maureen*&*

reply by royowen on 24-Sep-2016

You too Maureen

reply by royowen on 24-Sep-2016

This one worked well, the other one's print was indistinct, well done

reply by the author on 25-Sep-2016

Yes! I was glad someone enlightened me, and hopefully I gain a little better insight and control with the next. I hadn't noticed the direction to go to advance editing to add font colour against selected background. I'm just thrilled to feel the confidence of a better road map. Thanks for the re-read and confirmation, Maureen*&*

reply by royowen on 25-Sep-2016

Most welcome Maureen,