The Dance of Seasons is meant to bring out the beauty of the in-between times of the year, when temperatures and weather fluctuate and things can change dramatically from one day to the next. G.K. Chesterton once said that “an inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.” This poem is an invitation to see such times as an adventure!
Some say the solstice marks the seasons’ start,
The equinox announces seasons’ end;
But seasons do not keep each to themselves,
Changing post without a sideways glance—
Nay, they play and frolic like the elves,
Cavorting, playing tug-of-war and such,
They do not war as others say: they dance,
Promenading gaily side by side!
And all the seeming conflict that we see
Is not a mortal combat, dooming one to die:
It is a fond embrace of clement friends.
And as two seasons wander through the land,
They thrill the world together, hand in hand.
They give out gladsome gifts, each one in turn;
The days dance o’er their fingers intertwined,
And in that dance, each day lands as it may
On vernal or hibernal finger’s print
And is imprinted with that character
And comes to us imbued with that one’s grace.
And when, at last, the seasons loose their clasp,
They bid each other fond farewell, for they
Enjoy each other’s company so well,
But each one has its special work to do:
Waking the earth, and giving birth to life,
Nurturing it and giving strength to grow,
Harvesting the fruit that is mature,
And laying all things down to peaceful rest;
And this they know. No one may do the work
Meant for another. So they yield at last,
And Summer takes the place of budding Spring,
But mark you this: The seasons love their dance,
And when they are together, then they sing.
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