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Spring has Sprung!

The Spring has sprung, the grass has riz, I wonder where the birdies is? The birds is on the wing, I heard, but that’s absurd! I thought the wing was on the bird! I had long believe that snippet was by Scottish poet Robert Louis Stevenson, but it doe
The Spring has sprung, the grass has riz,
I wonder where the birdies is?
The birds is on the wing, I heard,
but that’s absurd!
I thought the wing was on the bird!


I had long believe that snippet was by Scottish poet Robert Louis Stevenson, but it does not seem to be in any listing of his poems. If anyone can provide me with the correct attribution, I would really appreciate it! Thanks.

Ah, yes… Spring! The time when "a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of love" (Tennyson). The time when forest creatures get "twitterpated," when flowers begin to bloom and birds begin to sing. Unfortunately, here above the 46th parallel, just because it says "Spring" on the calendar doesn’t mean it has arrived in all its glory… but there are some sure signs that Spring is on its way.

The snow is most definitely disappearing. I know that for skiers and snowmobilers and other winter enthusiasts this is disappointing, especially since the snow was so late in arriving. I’d like to say that I feel your pain, but I don’t. Sorry.

Of course, as the snow recedes various things emerge. I have noted a number of discarded beverage containers, particularly those of the brown glass variety, in what’s left of the snowbanks around my neighbourhood. This is something that has always puzzled me.

I am reasonably certain these have been discarded by under-aged drinkers. Hey, I was young once, and I snuck the occasional beer, too. But when I did, I didn’t walk down the street drinking it, and I didn’t just toss the empties onto people’s lawns.

Along with beverage containers of all types is plenty of other trash: candy and snack wrappers, the occasional piece of fruit, a single mitten. While I can accept that some of this may have been dropped inadvertently — I know that young people often go hatless and without mittens, but I’ve yet to see any walk down the street wearing just one mitt — it is obvious that much of the trash has deliberately been dropped on the ground.

I was watching Global news last week, and people on a subway platform were being asked their opinions on the cleanliness of the stations. Many commented on how much litter there seemed to be, and implored the TTC to do a better job keeping the stations clean. One man, however, seemed to possess a good measure of that elusive quality "common sense." His reply was that if people used the garbage cans that were provided instead of just dropping their trash on the ground, litter wouldn’t be a problem.

Of course, we don’t have trash cans at every street corner. But I figure that, in the case of snack wrappers and beverage containers, if you can carry it with you until you’re done with it then you can carry it further until you get to a garbage can. Whether that means stuffing it back into your backpack, or into a pocket, or just holding onto it, it’s just the right thing to do.

Sadly, it isn’t just the kids that are tossing trash onto the streets. I have watched adults do the same thing.

Along with the trash is the perennial blooming of dog-droppings. This is somewhat of a problem year-round, as inconsiderate dog owners allow their dogs to defecate on other people’s lawns without stooping-and-scooping (as is required by law!). I’m not sure whether this happens more in the winter, or if it just seems that way because of the sheer volume of "blossoms" which are exposed as the snow dissipates. Regardless of which, it is more than just a nuisance.

Another sure sign of spring is the re-emergence of motorcycles and tricked-out cars and trucks. In general, I don’t have a problem with this. Like many men, I have an appreciation for a really nice, tricked-out car or truck. What I don’t like, however, is vehicles that are unnecessarily loud!

I was a teen as the muscle car era came to an end in the late 70s. To me, there’s something visceral about the deep-throated rumbling of a large-block V8. But now I hear these little 4-cylinder imports with their flatulent exhausts — they sound like somebody’s playing a tuba underwater — and I just cannot find it in me to be impressed.

Then there’s the ones who, whether their vehicle is tricked-out or not, just let the mufflers rot off their vehicles. Folks, you know you need a new muffler when you drown out the sound of the 6000-watt stereo in the car beside you at the lights.

As for myself, the sign of spring that I am most looking forward to is when the buds just begin to emerge on the trees, when the forest of grey and brown branches just starts to shimmer with a hint of green.

That’s when I will let out a gigantic sigh, because then I will know that Spring has Sprung!

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