I’ve always thought that poetry is the most creative form of English. A good poet can paint a picture, a mood, a moment, which draws the reader into the shared experience.
This one, written by my husband on a vibrant Paraguayan spring morning, plays on the double meaning of the title. Yes, it is spring (primavera in Spanish), but Primavera is also the name of the estancia where he is sitting, watching the river in flood.
Primavera
Hark, how the flood changes the river on the edge
Cooler and higher and stronger
A caiman glares from his hiding place in the reeds
And a savannah hawk shows us what nonchalance and majesty look like
Although many animals and plants have moved out over the years
It is still country
The air is still fresh and free
I was made for the country
And will soon be at liberty
To spend time where you can see sunsets
And hear night birds….
They are so much wiser
Than city people
Simon Mercer
August 2026