Thursday, December 22, 2011

Thursday Poem - At the Winter Solstice

Owl hoots three times in the far woods,
fair warning for all small creatures
scurrying to their burrows.

Are we not still and always
those crouching figures
who flee the heavenly alchemy?
Three times in the crackling air,
Owl hoots for us.

*
Wind plays the drums of snow...
staccato taps,
crescendo off the roofs,
flourish of shuddering branches.
Ice snaps its castanets,
its daggers.

Atonal music of the darkest days
needs the most fearless,
subtle listeners.

*
Those strumming flamenco
fingers of sunlight
are a long time away from now.

Now we go comforted
in dreams and ceremonies,
flaming our star-speck candles,
raising our voices against that other music,
drowning out the forever
at night’s heart.

*
Look up! The wheel is turning.
The spectacular crowd of stars,
the tangle of dimensions
jostle for our attention.
Salute the birth of everything holy.

This beautiful poem was written for the Winter Solstice by Dolores Stewart Riccio and was published in her exquisite Doors to the Universe. It is posted here with the kind permission of the poet.

5 comments:

Guy said...

Thanks Cate

I really enjoyed the post, the poem was lovely.

All the best to you and your family for the holidays.

Guy

Maggie Emm said...

Solstice Greetings Cate!
I hope this Christmas brings you warmth, good food and good cheer with your kin,
Maggie x

Mystic Meandering said...

Lovely poem... Owl hoots here too. She came back about a week ago! And we woke up to a foot of snow this first Solstice morning! (unusual for here!) So I have a day of Silence, fearlessly listening to the song of the Universe. :)

Cate, I look forward to more of your lovely posts! It has been such a joy to read them, and get to know you. Wishing you much joy, light and health through these winter days. Christine

christinalfrutiger said...

Lovely...I think you might enjoy Jim Brandenburg's 90 day photographic challenge to himself..."Chased by the Light"...from the summer solstice to the winter solstice. The images are stunning and some remind me of yours...or yours remind me of his! :)

Q said...

Blessings as the light returns.
Happy 2012.
Lovely photographs....
Blessed be,
Sherry