The first version of this poem was written in 2012, here is an update for Winter Solstice 2022. Merry Yuletide all!
Winter Solstice–The Year Turns
The turning point is upon us.
Great Trilithon‘s smooth flat face
looks to winter sun
slanted light becomes stronger
days become longer
we celebrate rebirth
Yule
The sun stands
its shadow
barely changes
sun dials seem static
low in darkening skies
the darkest time
Black
Eat drink carouse
slaughter cattle
feast
quaff new-fermented wine
light candles
for the sun’s winter sleep
Sleep
Cleanse the house of evil spirits
look at Loki’s mistletoe
an arrow in the heart
tears become berries
symbols of love
life returns
every ending
leads to beginnings
new beginnings
© Polly Stretton 2022
journalread 
20/12/2012 at 14:59
Oh the solstice is upon us! Time to go down to the local passage tomb, cover myself in woad, and sacrifice a goat, in a non-denominational kind of way.
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20/12/2012 at 15:04
heh-heh … that I’d like to see! I’m having my immense black cloak altered so’s I can wear it ~ I’m sure it was made for a giant, and I ain’t one of those!
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20/12/2012 at 15:15
Oh Man! I want a cloak! Where did you get yours?
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20/12/2012 at 15:22
Have a look here, Joe … it’s wondrous: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Medieval-Style-Handmade-Natural-Cotton-Cloak-with-Satin-Lined-Hood-/300640953171?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:GB:3160
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20/12/2012 at 15:23
Ooooh! Nice!
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20/12/2012 at 15:24
Go on, admit it, you can just see yourself in it, can’t you? heh-heh …
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20/12/2012 at 15:33
Nice Polly very nice
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20/12/2012 at 15:51
Thank you, Bruce, glad you enjoyed Winter Solstice ~ The Year Turns. Such a special time of year. 🙂
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20/12/2012 at 15:48
OH Polly what a wonderful poem! If I smudge my house tonight will that be cleansing enough?
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20/12/2012 at 15:51
That should do the trick, Jasmine. Glad you enjoyed the poem. I love winter solstice. 🙂
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20/12/2012 at 16:06
I do to!!! I will smudge before I go to bed. Thanks for the advice I had not thought of it!
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20/12/2012 at 16:11
Don’t forget the mistletoe, sweet girl! 🙂
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20/12/2012 at 17:12
a bit of that would be nice to!
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20/12/2012 at 18:21
Eat, drink, make love, carouse,
Slaughter cattle, feast,
Quaff the new-fermented wine…smiles… i would love if we would still make a feast…but usually…at least over here..it passes unnoticed..thanks for this polly
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20/12/2012 at 18:22
It largely does over here, too, Claudia ~ but wouldn’t it be fun to reinstate it? I love the idea of it 🙂
We’re planning a hill walk for Midsummer’s Eve next year, that’s the summer solstice ~ longest day ~ it will be fun ~ we’re going to walk to Midsummer Hill on the Malverns ~ fab ‘eh?
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20/12/2012 at 18:56
Well, hopefully the world will not end with this solstice… 😉
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20/12/2012 at 18:56
It Mayan’t, Carrie (soz!) 🙂
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20/12/2012 at 19:01
🙂
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20/12/2012 at 20:28
Oh, I love the poem, but the comments have me in stitches!
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20/12/2012 at 21:46
heh-heh … just looked back, they are ‘er … different, ‘eh, Susan? 🙂
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20/12/2012 at 21:47
FUN!
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20/12/2012 at 23:08
😀
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20/12/2012 at 23:15
Nice to read about Solstice – makes a refreshing change from all the Christmas poems around at the moment. 🙂
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20/12/2012 at 23:16
Hmmm … we tend to forget that this time of year has been celebrated for aeons 🙂
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21/12/2012 at 04:39
Lovely to think of it in this way! k.
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21/12/2012 at 05:33
A most fascinating time, I think. The more you discover about solstices and the celebration surrounding them, the more intriguing they seem to be.
Thanks for commenting k 🙂
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21/12/2012 at 08:48
Lovely, Polly. 21st December is a particularly poignant day for me, and I like the feelings of solemnity and sadness, coupled with hope, in this. I especially like the second verse and the lines ‘Light the candles for/The sun’s winter sleep’. Beautiful picture too – how did you get the snow to fall?!
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21/12/2012 at 10:22
Delighted to see that you like my solstice poem, Lindsay, on your poignant day. There are so many around about Christmas and I think the winter solstice is very special.
The snow falling is in WordPress ‘Setting’ on the Dashboard, you check a box in ‘General’ to say whether you want it to fall or not ~ I guess the default must be ‘not’ (!)
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