The Soldanelle in the spring will bloom
through the icy crusts that form at the edge
of patches of lingering snow.

It is said that the mother plant
the summer before
spreads its ever-green leaves flat
on the ground to gather sunshine
its roots will store through the winter freeze.

Then in spring
the sprout drinks up the warmth,
and a dome begins to form in the crisp of snow
over its wee head.
The hardened obstacle yields
one drop at a time.

As the flower bud grows,
the air-bell rises until, at last,
it breaks into the gladness of the sunshine,
and the sparkling new petals emerge
triumphantly to say . . .