This Time, Last Year

Yesterday, I went looking for evidence of Spring, something other 
than the mere promise of a number on the calendar telling me 

it is just one short week away. The magnolia buds were still wearing 
their little sweaters, while the crocus plants were just beginning 

to emerge from the insulation of dead leaves 

that protected them from the cold.

To verify for myself that it was not my imagination, 

that indeed, the flowers had appeared about this time, 

I checked past pictures and found the top one, taken March 16, 2011. 

The one above was taken on the same date last year.