Tuesday, December 22, 2009

...settling in for a long winters nap

 
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The shortest day of the year has drawn in upon itself and the long period of darkness prevails. Winter has begun. It's been practicing for it's appearance for several weeks now. The dark winter sky arches velvet black above me, sprinkled with pinpoint diamonds of light. There is a glimmer and shimmer to the quality of the air, as I shiver, taking in the night.

The sun of late afternoon lays in deep bluish purple shadows across the snow..no mistaking the time of year. No warmth to the sun, no promise of the lengthening days that are to come. I wonder, does the world stand, poised, as it used to, in anticipation of winter solstice? I think not.

Light, energy, flash, boom and roar of a manmade kind shatters most landscapes. Matters not if they be woodlands or pavement...humans have arrived, claiming them all. To find "a woods on a snowy night, to have a horse and sleigh to find it with, to watch the woods fill up with snow"...no, I don't think so. But the "miles to go before we sleep, and the promises to keep.."that we still have.

I find solace in the promise the earth keeps for us...fulfill the time of darkness and then turn towards the light. We must remember..turn towards the light. This quarter of the year, so recently turned from autumn to winter, may lie at hand, but it begins with the shortest of all days, and slides continously toward the light. Light that balances the darkness always, and has it's moment of glory on the opposite side of the year.

17 comments:

Narelle said...

Beautiful picture and beautiful words.
Christmas Wishes to you.

Unknown said...

so poetic and beautifully written.

Amelia said...

Beautiful written piece...so full of wintery descriptions.

*karendianne. said...

Wow. This is a beautiful piece of writing. Thank you for creating this Work and for sharing it. I'm moved. Warmly and with appreciation for that which is within you, *karendianne. towards the light.

julieQ said...

The darkness is a comfort, quiet and still...good for napping, or staying in and drinking hot chocolate and doing a little sewing...but! I have been busy, busy with Christmas preparations, so who has time for that? I hope you have a most wonderful Christmas!!!

Scrappy quilter said...

Today we gain 3 mins. of light in our area. I love winter however I also love the promise of spring with new birth. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas dear friend. Hope you're feeling better too. Hugs and love

em's scrapbag said...

Nicely said.

Paula, the quilter said...

Quiet long shadows
Mother Nature sleeps to wake
In spring with flowers.

Sunna Reyr said...

You always word your thoughts so nicely. We've had winter for some time now although we had some unusually warm weather for over a week mid December. Now it's biting frost and promising a bad storm tomorrow.

I'm at a strange place in my life now in that I don't have a favorite season, it used to be fall, but now I just don't care and I don't like that.

Susan said...

Deep wisdom, Finn, thank you. May you be blessed by the growing light!

Greenmare said...

Beautiful Finn. calm and beautiful

Clare said...

Lovely words, as usual.

Have a lovely Christmas and see you the other side of the festivities.

VBH
xx

Yvonne said...

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas filled with lots of love and joy!

hugs, Yvonne

Gypsy Quilter said...

Happy, merry, joyous, wonderful Christmas to you Finn!

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

So well said. When the winter gets dark and dreary, I always try to remember that the days are getting longer each day.

Chris Daly said...

Merry Christmas Finn. What a lovely post

cottonreel said...

I always feel the words Winter Solstice sound magical-cottonreel