The Winter Solstice takes place on Sunday, December 21, at 23:03. By Monday, the days will be growing longer once again. Hallelujah!
This poem was sent to me as part of a lovely gift package from my Winter Poem Swap gifter, Irene Latham. The Winter Swap was organized through the generosity of Tabatha Yeatts.
Poem © Irene Latham, all rights reserved. Photo by Matt Katzenberger "Touch the Light."
A lovely evocation of the season! Many thanks, Irene! Mary Lee Hahn sent me "Sensing the Solstice" for the 2012 Winter Swap, she wrote about it here. In 2013 I received a book of Margaret Gibson Simon's seasonal poems titled Illuminate. If you didn't participate in the Winter Swap this year, I hope you will in 2015!
The following is a collection of my solstice poems:
I'm not sure if this was posted/published anywhere. (I'm a lousy record-keeper.) I wrote it in 2010:
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Print by Hiroshige courtesy Library of Congress.
Haiku Sticky #128 is from 2011:
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
In 2012, at Random Noodling I wrote about the solstice and two poems about Saint Lucy. The following was also written in 2012, shortly after the tragedy in Newtown, CT:
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
I guess 2013 was uninspiring--I didn't write a solstice poem last year--but, here's a new one for 2014:
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
Happy Hanukkah to all who are celebrating it this week! I hope at least one of your gifts is a book of poems! And the same for all who celebrate Christmas next week. Buffy's Blog will be hosting the solstice/holiday poetry extravaganza today!
Oooooh, Irene's poem is both magical and inspiring. What will unfurl in 2015, my friend?
ReplyDeleteAnd soothing, too! "cold,/silent sunlight"
Deleteluv them all the last one is my favourite
ReplyDeletemuch love...
That's my favorite, too, 'cause I'm counting!
DeleteWonderful poems, Diane (and Irene!) I especially love: solstice...no day, no night/only white....
ReplyDeleteSorry for the delay in linking your post--for some reason a few regular commenters got shunted into the unapproved wasteland, including yours. Happy holidays to you!
No problem, Buffy! I'm glad you enjoyed solstice. A little judicious cropping made the scene possible. See the original here.
DeleteI like that kernel of courage unfurling! Guess we'd better hang on to it like somebody's clinging to that extra thirty seconds of daylight!
ReplyDelete"kernal of courage unfurling" is such a revealing phrase.
DeleteIrene's poem is so lovely with those just right words, dreaming, mingling, and unfurling. I somehow missed the sign up for the winter poetry swap. Thanks for mentioning last year's gift.
ReplyDeleteDon't miss the summer one, Margaret! And thank you for your last year's gift!
DeleteHi, Diane--
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your collection and recollection...Irene's poem is beautifully designed, isn't it? I would love to participate in the Swap, and yet declining to do so was a gift I gave myself. : )
Boy, I can understand that decision, Heidi! Enjoy the holidays.
DeleteWhat lovely solstice poems. Hooray for more daylight :)!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jama! I'm tired of the winter grey already!
DeleteMmmm Irene's "cold,/quiet sunlight" is gorgeous, as is the whole poem. And I so enjoyed yours from recent years as well!
ReplyDeleteMay your holidays be "enlightening" and lovely! :0)
Love your Solstice collection! Bring on the light!!
ReplyDelete