The date on the calendar 
is not yet here 
and 
the snow fell all day long last Saturday 
but 
I did see a robin 
two weeks ago 
so…
I was not surprised, 
delighted, 
but not surprised 
when my feet hit the pavement for an evening walk 
and 
the doves cooed me 
all through my neighborhood; 
and 
I was not surprised, 
delighted, 
but not surprised 
when I heard the 
honk, honk, honking 
of the head goose 
leading his tribe back home 
and looked up 
just in time to see 
their V disappear 
over the trees; 
and 
I was not surprised, 
delighted, 
but not surprised 
as I passed by the marsh 
and was greeted by 
the springtime singing of the frogs;
my entire being smiled 
as my eyes took in the naked limbs of winter 
and the few patches of white left
 on the muddy brown ground around me. 
I am not surprised, 
delighted, 
but not surprised;
for it is true,
the date on the calendar 
is not yet here 
but 
the pre-game show 
is something to behold!