Changing Seasons

To a certain extent
Southern California
Has only two seasons;
Cool Wet,
And Hot Dry.
I have grown accustomed
To the nature of our seasons,
And I don’t particularly miss
The long bitter Michigan winters.
Here in “The Land of Two Seasons,”
The snow gets close enough
So that I can see it
On the mountains
In the distance
And that is good enough for me.
Most trees and shrubs
Stay green throughout the year,
So I miss
The turning of the leaves
Warning of winter ahead,
But then I don’t have to
Put up with the winter cold either.
Spring is different here as well.
I don’t get to see
The overnight proliferation of leaves
As the trees come to life
Magically relieving the dreariness
Of the winter,
But the verdant green
Of the California hills,
And the blooming
Of the desert flowers
Following the rains
Are as beautiful
As any Spring
I can remember.