The Rainbow of the Year

From "The Pilot", 1967, I found this rather nice poem by Catherine Giles. If anyone knows anything about her, I'd be most interested to know. I believe she was the wife of Alan Giles, Dean of Jersey from 1959 to 1971.

The Rainbow of the Year
Catherine Giles, Feb 1967

January was white
     The sombre snow-clouds drifting o'er our
          heads
Melted. at touch of some magician's wand.
     And in a moment all the air was filled
With myriad flakes, as light as gossamer,
     And white as feathers from an angel's wings.
Beneath the microscope's all-seeing eve
     Each tiny flake resealed within itself.
A fairyland where crystal flowers and stars
     Emerged in lacy gleaming symmetry
Of exquisite design. They floated, swirled
     From heaven in white profusion till the
          earth
Itself was as one vast snow-decked fairy land.
     Where root and road. and galley, field and
          fell
Were mantled all in white: where every wall
     And every tree's dark gown was ermine-
          trimmed.
A strange white hush embraced the sleeping
     Earth:
But. e'er she woke from her soft bosom
     sprang
A small white flower, the first-born of the snow
     While on the prunus bough not yet in leaf.
White blossoms twinkled like the stars of
          Spring.
     Above a cold World.

          January was white.
But February is yellow. Now the sun:
     Sits higher in the trees. and shines less pale.
From o'er the Western hill a yellow light
     Streams earthward through the lengthening
          afternoons.
The snow has `gone: now. from her leafy bed.
     The yellow aconite peeps. starry-eyed.
And Winter jasmine winks his yellow eyes
     Among the evergreens which climb the wall.
In garden borders. greedy sparrows drain
     The crocus goblets of their golden wine:
While. in the fields, the budding daffodils
     Shake out their frilly dresses, and unfold
Their yellow bonnets for another Spring.
          February is yellow.