The Shortest Day

As the Winter Solstice approaches here on the west coast in about two hours, I do want to share the poem by Susan Cooper entitled "The Shortest Day":

And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear themEchoing behind us - listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!

And an especial thanks to Aine Minogue whose wonderful harp website not only has this poem but riches of poem, music and lore. Visit her here: http://www.minogue.com/

Bright blessings to all,

Duncan