avatarMark Tulin

Summary

The text "Scent of Spring" evokes a vivid memory of finding warmth and the essence of spring within the author's father's fruit store during a harsh Hazleton winter.

Abstract

"Scent of Spring" is a reflective piece by Mark Tulin that contrasts the harshness of a Hazleton winter with the comforting refuge found in his father's fruit store. Amidst the cold and snow, the author recalls the sensory escape experienced while unpacking crates of tangerines, apricots, and Honeycrisp apples, which brought the promise of spring. The warmth of a kerosene heater and a hot cup of coffee served as physical and emotional comforts, highlighting the store as a sanctuary from the relentless winter outside.

Opinions

  • The author seems to hold a fond nostalgia for the winters of his past, particularly the moments of respite found in his father's store.
  • The scent of the fruits is personified, representing the hope and renewal that spring embodies.
  • The author conveys a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the simple pleasures in life, such as warmth and the natural aroma of fresh produce.
  • The juxtaposition of the cold outside and the warmth inside suggests a deeper metaphor for finding solace and hope in difficult times.
  • The author's experience implies a belief in the power of sensory experiences to transform one's emotional state.

Scent of Spring

In the throes of winter

Photo by Nikoli Afina on Unsplash

I remember a Hazleton winter The cars swerving off the road Mountains of snow drifting ten feet high The fierce winds showing no mercy

It was a relief to get out of the cold, to be inside my father’s fruit store, standing by the kerosene heater, a refuge for my icy toes

For a moment, I detected the scent of spring when I opened the wooden crates of tangerines, fresh apricots, and unwrapped the Honeycrisp apples

I eventually lost my chill with a steaming hot cup of coffee while my snowy boots formed a puddle in the middle of my father’s concrete floor.

© 2021 Mark Tulin

Poetry
Winter
Spring
Nature
Fruits
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