March and Lent and we march along on our spiritual journeys

As winter hangs on and the world looks older and duller

And then in the mail comes the spring seed catalogue from Gurney’s

And suddenly there is life and audacious color

And excitement rivaling Times Square or Las Vegas —

Blue Lake, Early Fortune, King of the Garden beans,

Stunning onions, phenomenal fennel, and big brutes of rutabagas,

And the beet that can’t be beat: the extra-early Ruby Queens.

And O the tomatoes! The bearer of pure joy!

From tasteless store-bought stuff, deliver us!

The Crimson Defender, and Pink Delight, and Big Boy,

And the Beef Eater—the tomato carnivorous.

      Lord, whose Arm is powerful, whose Word is valid,

      Preserve us until July when we’ll have salad.

The post April appeared first on Garrison Keillor.