Poets’ Corner: Rosemerry for the Solstice!

21 Dec Poets’ Corner: Rosemerry for the Solstice!

The term “solstice” means “sun stands still.” On the year’s two solstices (winter and summer) the sun appears to halt in its incremental journey across the sky but change little in position during this time. Of course, contrary to appearances from Earth, the sun’s “changing position” throughout the year is actually caused by the rotation of the Earth on its tilted axis as it circles the sun. The solstice occurs twice a year (on or around December 21st and June 21st) when the sun is farthest from the tilting planet’s celestial equator.

In modern times Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day, which falls on December 25. However, it’s believed that this date was chosen to offset pagan celebrations of Saturnalia and Natalis Invicti. Some say that celebrating the birth of the “true light of the world” was set in sync with the December solstice because from that point onwards, we experience more daylight in the Northern Hemisphere.

And now a poem from Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer aka Word Woman,  Her words, certain to warm up your heart on these cold, snowy days, when the yellow light in the sky clicks off early.

Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, credit; Joanie Schwarz.

Walking into Winter Solstice

Because it is dark
I walk in the dark,
walk with no moon,
walk with the chill
of the measureless dark.
There is peace that comes
from letting the self
be with the world
as it is, and tonight,
it’s a dark world,
a world where I cannot see
far ahead, a world
of silhouette and suggestion,
a world that seems
to cherish whispers
and relish mystery,
a world where
the invitation is
to walk in the dark
without wishing it away,
without championing its opposite,
the invitation is
to be one who learns
how to live with the dark.