COVID has spread
the annual
spring flower festival
like seeds
across the city.
Tulips on street corners
guarded by
raggedy scarecrows,
pansies posing brightly
at busy intersections
or window boxes
brought to rainbow life
outside public buildings.
There are no rides
this year
or crafty stalls
or fragrant food trucks
**
And yet the joy
I think
is more generous
the spectacle
less voluptuous
the point
more beautiful.
**
Dare I say
I like it
better?
Out of the Cave 
The same thing is happening here. The nearby town of Wynyard also has a yearly tulip festival but this year instead of the big event there are going to be several small ones and of course the tulip farm will be open to visit which is the best part anyway. I don’t really enjoy the crowds at big events any more. I have always wanted to visit Floriade although when my best friend lived in Canberra she said it used to be expensive and hard to get a park at some of the venues. Now I live in tulip country I don’t mind so much not seeing the Canberra display although I would like to visit Canberra again some time. I’ve only been once and did not get to see much.
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Yes, I am not keen on crowds. And I have a strangely deep resentment of queues. There are few things I will join a long queue for. The opportunity to climb the Eiffel Tower was one notable example (of something I did grudgingly queue for). So going to Floriade with kids who want to go on all the rides or pat the animals… it’s just not my cup of tea.
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