Happy Winter Solstice, friends. Tonight the darkness is most prolonged, but then the Earth turns us slowly round to Spring light and another growing season. Personally, I love this time of year. To acknowledge this astronomical event, I’ve attempted a little poem. Apologies in advance to any real poets out there.
I Know Where the Sun Is
A pink streak outlines the eastern ridge;
bare tree trunks become black outlines.
Pink morphs to deeper mauve.
Mauve morphs to crimson and climbs the sky,
revealing the outline of every intertwining branch in the canopy.
Eastern crimson sends out pink tentacles to the southern horizon,
a thin line demarcating earth and air.
Creek water reflects red sky;
ripples of fire trail paddling wood ducks.
They know where the sun is.
As sky pales to orange, then gold,
White-throated sparrows sing a melancholy greeting.
They know where the sun is.
Advancing western clouds warm from pink to orange
before they engulf the glowing orb just rising above the ridge.
Winter gray wins the morning,
but that’s okay,
because I know where the sun is.
Every fat flower bud shelters its light.
Every green winter leaf finds its power,
even on dim days when humans growl at the clouds.
Winter darkness,
winter starkness
does not worry me.
I don’t need to build a solstice bonfire
to ensure the sun’s return.
Bird and bud,
Earth and air,
Spinning blue-green world
dancing in a sea of stars.
They don’t need human intervention.
I am just a speck in an infinite universe,
but I know where the sun is.
Happy Winter Solstice to all!
Piedmont Gardener 
#1 by Robert Reynolds on December 21, 2014 - 6:33 pm
Nowadays many of us have to be reminded of the occurrance of the solstices, but our pagan ancestors knew that their lives were ruled by the turning of the seasons, and thus celebrated each in its turn. I’d like to think our ancestors were among those at Stonehenge and similar sites, dancing in riotous joy at the prospect of longer days once again.
Hope your garden injury is knitting well.
#2 by piedmontgardener on December 21, 2014 - 7:12 pm
Hi, Robert! I think it is entirely likely that our ancestors celebrated the turning of the seasons. My injury is improving — thanks for your well-wishes. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday.
As always, thanks for stopping by!