Thank You, February, Or What An Early Bird I Am

So this is my farewell to February. That cold and dry month, the death of winter and last death portal to spring (the vernal equinox is right around the corner!) This is to the sun moving back northward, that central fire that warms the hearth even in the dreary dead of winter. This is to the coming fecundity of earth, the lakes and ponds and grasses and fields and flowers and trees awakening once again to begin the cycle anew. This is to the polar bear who has come out of hibernation with his young and helpmeet. This is to warmer days and clearer nights, longer magical hours and shorter night hours. This is to the moon, waxing 97% full at this writing, tempting the entire heavens in the skies tonight. This is to the promise of bike rides and skateboard stunts, and meeting again with old friends and gaining new ones, and this is to action, where slumber will be eschewed for activity. This is for stored energy about to burst forth and good memories of all the winter snows and christmases past, all the recollections of family times spent round the table eating cookies and playing Clue (a new cycle of this has started as well)! This is to the necessity of death, without which we'd be unconscious of life, and the hope of a new beginning just when everything seems to be ended for good. This is to taking up the struggle once again, the spiritual sentinels being called for protection as yet another new journey begins. This is to the Ides of March, March Madness, and all things solar and daylight savings time. This is to the seed moon who presides over the plantings that will sprout, flower, and be harvested again. Yeah, onwards and upwards, I say, and it can only get better from here, and all that.