nearly

it’s nice
an evening outdoors for the first time in a long time
what with winter being so very wet this year
and so very cold
spring’s coming
its essence tantalises expectation of
jasmine and wattle and amenity

it’s late, long past dark
but birds are still singing their nesting songs
insect sounds compete with occasional hum of traffic
along with a hardly-heard rendering of Die Fledermaus
drifting across the fenced-off yards
from the home of one of those adjourning
somewhere left of me
(I wish they would turn it up)

all holds promise of soon-to-be more neighbour noise
spring stirring to bring
the thrum of lawnmower, the buzz of children at play
laughter and music
and aroma of cuisine through open windows
after the silent, non-fragrant void of winter lock up
I can almost smell the barbecues

not a breath of breeze
today’s soothing heat, retained by sky blankets of cloud
wraps around me in a welcome of warmth
it’s nice
spring

what’s this?
bloody hell, it’s raining
.