In a Word

A neighbor who lives in the top floor of the building across the street, and thus has a spectacular view of the maples in front of my house writes:

“The buds on your tree are more numerous than yesterday, and more visibly that color that Joni Mitchell sang about: “just a little green, like the color when the spring is born...”   And we’re getting a good, soaking rain.  Happy Spring!”

I have heard the song so many times, I do not need to look it up, except to share both with those for whom it is not part of an intimate map of a long ago period and with those for whom it is and who will have, by just seeing the words (and even more so by listening), some upsurge of memories and a revelation of the miraculous play of consciousness.