Snowdrops

The snowdrops hang their heads and weep

Tears of glass on the barren earth beneath

Backs breaking under the burden

Of our shattered dreams

They stumble onward through unforgiving misery

Now huddled together

Backs turned to the whipping rain

They strive to protect the lukewarm

Brazier of hope

Which gutters dismally at their feet

Brave sentinels of Spring

These fragile transient blooms whisper of new life

A pinprick of light in death

And life does go on

Transient and fragile as a snowdrop

(Anon. Thank you, whoever you are. A really really touching poem that needs to be shared and read by others! (And one that keeps giving more the more you read it - like those truly great poems). It sprung instantly to mind when I saw this year's first snowdrop... I wonder what significance snowdrops hold for others?)