As a kid growing up in the Deep South, daylight savings time didn't have much impact on my life. The change in the amount of light throughout the year was subtle enough that it largely escaped me. I also thought fall was the best season because somewhere there were brightly colored leaves falling from trees just waiting for someone to walk by and crunch them. Since moving to the Midwest daylight savings time has become much more meaningful, and fall is no longer my favorite season. I still like it well enough, but spring is now my favorite as trite as that may be.
As the sun begins to set earlier and the clocks are set back in the fall, I get a feeling of dread. At first, I look at it stoically and tell myself, "Maybe the winter will pass more quickly this year." When we are able to travel around the holidays, it helps a little to speed things up. Then we hit February, and the snow keeps falling, and even though the sun stays up a little longer, it feels like winter will never end. For some of us the entry into Lent makes everything feel even darker, too. This is particularly bad when we have an early Lent, which, fortunately, is not this year. But then in the midst of all this bleakness daylight savings time shows its happy face. Now the sun really begins to "stay up late." And even if the snow hasn't completely gone away there is now real hope that spring will arrive soon with summer fast upon its heels.
Easter will be here in 43 days, and although not as easy to pinpoint, spring will be here soon, too. In the meantime don't forget to set your clocks ahead tonight, and have a happy first day of daylight savings time.
So as not to make a liar of my title here is an imperfect ode.
Turn the clocks ahead
For now we're off.
It's time for bed.
Do not scoff
For an hour now lost
Will be an hour of light.
Hope that light does bring.
This is slight cost
For a great delight.
Now we draw close to spring.
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