Winter Solstice
Millie and I just came in from an early evening walk. Was a lovely slow walk in the quiet darkness of this longest night of the year. Nearly every home in our small neighborhood is decorated with a string of lights or two, and the falling mist softened their glow beautifully.
On the porch, as I toweled off my pup, I could hear Celtic Christmas music playing inside. I stood for a moment listening. What a perfect accompaniment to this Winter Solstice night.
I entered our cozy house, closing the door against the darkness, ready to light our candles and add wood to the fire.
A Leaf from the Tree of Leaves
By Adam Christianson
When harpers once in wooden hall
A shining chord would strike
Their songs like arrows pierced the soul
Of great and low alike
Aglow by hearth and candleflame
From burning branch ot ember
The mist of all their music sang
As if to ask in wonder
Is there a moment quite as keen
Or memory as bright
As light and fire and music (sweet)
To warm the winter’s night?
Happy Winter Solstice!
I wish you peace, joy, and light.
~Dori
You’ve painted a lovely picture, Miss Dori. I remember walking the campus at Pacific Lutheran and being stopped by the choir practicing their winter program. It sounded as if the angels were singing.
That must have been just beautiful, Connie! : )
Dori dear,
I read this out to Doug a few days ago, having found it online somewhere. It perfectly describes what is best about our Winter Solstice gathering…tho’ the “music sweet” made me smile. This year, we had an abundance of young musicians and their rendition of “Go, Johnny, Go” in the kitchen in the wee hours was many things…tho’ sweet would not first come to mind. : )
How fun, Lesley! 🙂 Perhaps the music was not exactly sweet, but the moment…and the memory of it…would certainly be!