Monday, December 22, 2008

Knelt at the Solstice



Ink of the solstice
Stains the hours bereft of sleep
Cling to candlelight and flickering greens
Celestial nights, our souls will keep

11 comments:

Sarah Hina said...

Kneeling to the darkness, while souls cling to the heavens. That sounds just right for the solstice.

I like the muted effect on those needles. Like night and day are touching them together.

Aine said...

Cling to candlelight and flickering greens
Celestial nights, our souls will keep


I really like those lines. That tiny speck of warmth from a candle provides so much on a long, dark winter night. I can imagine how, long before modern day, humans would have feared the long winter as a threat to survival, and then celebrated joyously when the days started getting longer. There was so much more at stake. Many didn't make it through the winter.

Though I'm thankful to be living now, there is still an instinctual concern deep within me about the loss of sunlight. It does serve to give me a sense of connection to humans of long ago...

Anonymous said...

Cheers to new beginnings always. Lovely poem.

Charles Gramlich said...

You wonder where the sun has gone, during the longest night. Does the night feel victory? Or know that it's defeat is inevitable? Tomorrow.

Chris Eldin said...

I love the last line, and I agree with Sarah--the washed lines in the photo look muted by a blending of day and night.
Very nice!

Vesper said...

Oh, Jason, this is so beautifully haunting... I have to recite it as an incantation, over and over again...

Anonymous said...

Sarah, maybe under the heaviest weight of darkness, we find what is most beautifully pure. :)

Aine, yes, the stark realities of the Earth are infused into our marrow. How profoundly we're affected by the tides of waning light.

Aggie, happy summer solstice!!

Charles, that battle is potent. On some level, the long night must take comfort in its power over us.

Chris, thanks about the photo! I discovered some new effects on Photoshop. Being a artist-wannabe, I can't help myself!

Vesper, that would be a high honor to commend to lines to you.

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Jason, the photo is really lovely! Your camera skills are awesome!

Here's wishing you and Aine and the kids a wonderful Christmas and a joyous new year!

Peace,
E

Freddie said...

Am so into this...my kind of poetic presentation. Lovely piece!!!

K.Lawson Gilbert said...

Yes, in that darkest hour comes our prayer - Amen.

Catherine Vibert said...

Lovely poem, ink of the solstice, nice...