Spring Returns with Rita Marie Recine

Once heat and humidity come to stay, it's nice to remember spring.  Here is Rita Marie Recine's poem "A Bowl of Cherries on a Spring Day."  Do you recognize the picture above?

A Bowl of Cherries on a Spring Day

A bowl of cherries On a Spring Day
Sweet or sour,
Red or yellow,
Good days, bad days.
Springtime, is here

Cherries are drenched in the waters of love.
A Token from up above.
Life isn’t always what it seems.
flowers  are abloom
from the gardens to the mountainside
an array, a bouquet
Springtime is here
Hopes and dreams.
Roads are paved, 
Taking delight in the taste of glazed doughnuts and ice cream parfaits
Springtime is here
The sun is out
the children play about
a playground in my mind
spring is so kind.
remnants of my childhood  dance in my head
cherries and apples so red
from the tree they fell
we would not tell,
clean them and ate them as well
Springtime is here
As  I  look ahead with imagination, 
Creation of what once was,
What may continue to be.
Springtime is here.

The grass is greener
Strength earned.
and lessons learned
I gaze up at the stars and listen.
As they shine and glisten.
One by one, they differ.
Similar to a bowl of cherries
Springtime is here
Life is a bowl of cherries.
Holding on to a tree branch,
One by one they fall.
Some sweet some sour.
Life is a bowl of cherries
Yellow and red
Have no fear.
Love all that is dear.
Springtime is here
For our yesterdays, today and our tomorrows
Life is a bowl of cherries
No need to be afraid.
We march to our own parade.
Cherries on the tree

Upon  the springtime's dream
Alongside hand in hand.
innocent and carefree
our life…the bowl of cherries
Springtime is here

fallen from the skies
glee  in our eyes
happiness, no sorrow
a brighter  tomorrow..divine
clock is chiming. from 12 to 9
Springtime is here

The world is smiling.immaculate
Expressions are enchanting, delight
How so bright, the starry night
An immense love and light
birds are beginning to chirp.
squirrels and cats scurry as the young skip
singing to the tune of their favorite melody.
spring.no melancholy

today and tomorrow
life is a bowl of cherries
in festivities and in sorrow
life is a bowl of cherries
Springtime is here
The skies speak 
we can hear the little whisper
from sister  to sister 
friend to friend.
daughter to mother
son to father
together in harmony they cheer
Spring is finally here
I wait a minute, one hour, one day
I pray from the heart.
I stand with a bowl of cherries in my hand
For it is springtime throughout  the land
we can hear the little whisper
from sister  to sister 
friend to friend.
together in harmony they cheer
Spring is finally here tonight
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Let's start the music with Ella and Louis's version of "April in Paris":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCsNg6XB3dg

I found Minoru Muraoka's version of "And I Love Her" with Japanese flute:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHANgUKUD4o

Here is his version of "Scarborough Fair":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V2toRhXsO8

His "The Positive and the Negative" appears to be his own composition:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EfsEMg8swI

I'll finish with his "Soul Bamboo":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-s6UgMz2gE

Enjoy!