First Flower for the Day Crocus 2-14-24

It was the first week of February when our first crocuses bloomed, a real testament to our warm winter. Here is an image of it by my son Chris (chrissessionsphotography.com) from last week. The history of crocus cultivation dates back to the Bronze Age. The Egyptians, Greeks, and Aegean Minoans (2100-1600 B.C.) all grew crocus primarily as a source of saffron, used as a coloring agent or to flavor food.

Crocus-Minded
    

It takes courage

    to be crocus-minded.

God, I'd rather wait until June,
    Like wise roses,
    When the hazards of winter are safely behind,
    and I'm expected,
    and everything's ready for roses.
But crocuses?
    Highly irregular.
    Knifing through hard-frozen ground and snow,
         and sticking their necks out,
    because they believe in spring
     and have something personal
         and emphatic to say about it.
God, I am by nature rose-minded.
    Even when I have studied the situation here
    and know there are wrongs that need righting,
    affirmations that need stating,
    and know also that my speaking out may offend . . .
        for it rocks the boat . . .
    Well, I'd rather wait until June.
    Maybe later things will work themselves out,
    and we won't have to make an issue of it.
God, forgive,
    Wrongs don't work themselves out.
    Injustices and inequities and hurts don't just dissolve.
Somebody has to stick her neck out,
    Somebody who cares enough
        to think through
        and work through hard ground,
    because she believes
    and has something personal
        and emphatic to say about it.
Me God?
    Crocus-minded?
    Could it be that there are things that need to be said,
        and you want me to say them?
I pray for courage.

 Jo Sorely

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