Worm reflections

Getting ready for spring clean up today.  The county will collect leftover fall leaves, perennials, shrub trimmings in a few weeks.  I found a cache of worms under the wet rotting leaves, squiggling under my exposure.  I couldn't bear to toss them in the yard waste bag even though I know they might very well get composted with the detritus and create offspring.  I stopped raking, knelt down, dug out all the worms and their babies, adding some wet soil to make them feel at home.  I thought of my grandson, knowing he would love to get down on his knees and dig for worms with me.  I carried the worms to their new home in my shade perennial bed, dug them in and covered them with mulch so the birds couldn't find them readily.    Grateful for the distraction and feeling my connection to the earth again this spring.