February Gifts

This day past Valentine’s,
Snail’s silver trail
Shines this sun-filled afternoon -
A promise of finding
Silver, maybe even gold
When I reach the creek.
Approaching,
I smell new greens,
Trees are reflected
In light coffee-colored water.
A few feet ahead
Are white fan-shaped
Mushrooms growing out of
Fallen trunk of tree.
In awe,
I peel them off,
Wrap them in paper -
my bus schedule.
Other paper I need
To write on
About these gifts
From the creek,
This day past Valentine’s -
Gifts more precious
Than silver or gold.