Delicate, so frail now, almost br apologetic for their presence, br like the longtime bed-bound br taking their first unaccompanied walk, br hardly able to believe their fortune, on br this unexpected day of sunlight br offering hope to weakest winter body - br yet exploratory, determined, in br their frailty; invisibly heroic – br br the tendrils of the jasmine explore, br survey with vegetable mind, the frontiers of the empire which br they plan to flood with scent some secret br time ahead; how can a stem that looks br like fine, dead wire, carry all the ruthlessness br of Nature’s will, in so tentative disguise? br br the sunlight on this white winter wall, br as a slight breeze waves the exploratory tendrils, br throws up the sharp shadow of this filigree br like twin explorers of the year’s new world br dancing with each other; br br a Japanese artist, seeking a new kimono br patterned to show where nature, br truth and beauty meet, might feel the need, br confronted by so delicate a sketch br of Spring’s new plans, br to grow as this jasmine, br exploring the unknown so carefully.