The Turning of the Year

Sharing a few more thoughts on this time of year.

Winter Solstice Chant

By Annie Finch

Vines, leaves, roots of darkness, growing,

now you are uncurled and cover our eyes

with the edge of winter sky

leaning over us in icy stars.

Vines, leaves, roots of darkness, growing,

come with your seasons, your fullness, your end.

Tonight's sunset:

One of my poems, from 2020:

Solstice

Smoke curls, swirls heavenward

through reaching branches

naked white against a dying day.

Holly and ivy twine

through wisps of flame and stars--

Owl drifts tree to tree,

Coyote sings,

a song ancient as mistletoe,

as time.

Spirits stir: 

the veil thins.

 

This night, 

Holly King yields,

Green Man takes the crown;

roots awaken.

An old photo of our house, from around 1980, I think, taken around this time of year. Back when we were walking in all winter.

One more old one:

Solstice 2015

6:00 AM, and dark,

still as the middle of the night,

as midnight, quiet.  I walk out,

into the glow of Christmas

strands left burning,

Defiant.

 The rooster crows,

just once.

Our little creek rushes

between shrouded hills,

Over-full from hours of steady rain.

No stars in the sky this longest night

to welcome the coming Light.

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.