Greetings

The winter solstice is upon us (Sun., Dec. 21, 2008, 7:04 AM EST). The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It is the first day of winter. The days begin to grow longer, the nights shorter, and paddling season closer following the solstice.

I wrote this poem on the Solstice a few years back. I was struck with the need to go out and dance around a raging fire..... Instead, I stayed in my warm house, watched snow swirl down the street, sipped a glass (or 2) of cherry Kijafa (Danish fortified cherry-based wine) and wrote of the night

Winter Solstice

I feel your presence
a beast with a thousand icy tongues
hungry for heat within

Life retreats
your vagrant army advances
in swirling white battalions
that know no bounds.

Passionless
cold fingers probe,
penetrate, search for weakness.

Darkness and the beast,
dreadful companions lay siege.
Life defiantly holds fast out of sight.
Tonight, battle lines are drawn.