How do they stay clean?

• 

• 

Born out of muddy soil
Breaking through half rotten leaves
Thrown away during autumn clearance
Half-composted reminders of summer past

Pelted by sleet, and hail, and rain
Trampled on by foxes and deer
Yes, both, in our garden
And yet

And yet
Snow white
Brilliant
Clean
Vibrant green
Not a speck of mud

Harbingers of spring
You say?

Harbingers of hope
I respond.

The power of life
Born out of cold and darkness
Brilliant white
The colour to hold them all
Symbol of light
Symbol of peace
Symbol of hope

A very fragile message