Winter Solstice Again

Feel her.

Feel her roll, and sigh,

Gently, gently feel her under the stars,

Shifting, turning, sighing in the dark;

Deep, deep in well-earned slumber.

A shame not to look on her, to not

Be there and watch as she dreams,

Remembers the summer's work,

Autumn's glory, and

Delights in themes of spring's surprise.

Hold her close, our earth, in all her beauty,

As we nod tonight to the sun and its return.

Brief,

This moment of change, tipping toward

The blink of dawn;

A flicker, now charged to beat the last,

Marking the coming of puffed days,

Fuller and fuller of trumpet's call;

Duty, adventure and the hunt for love's blush.

The night gives way, with each of her turns,

Until, once again, she finds the longest day

Adorned in sun's tender shadows.

But now, tonight, we are a half from that,

And though eager to pass right to spring,

Slow here at winter's door.

Take stock of yourselves.

Soften your edge, and rest.

You too have turned;

Weathered the seasons, some easily,

Others with great effort.

Challenges?

All of us.

Be grateful for these, and look to them relentlessly

Summoning the very best that is in you:

Your strength, your brilliance, and the 

Realization of just how powerful you are.

And you really are.

Those triumphs you had, those successes;

Bring them forth again to revisit;

Sharpen their images and reinforce how
Important they are, each and every one.

Through all of this adventure comes opportunity,

The gift at just the right time to

Tap into something bigger than all of us;

A wellspring of love, rooted deep within the earth.

It's always been there, turning with her, but now,

Tonight, we can feel it tugging at us,

Offering its embrace and guidance as this 

Dark gives way to light.

Take it.

Shake free of the past.

Brush off the old dust and tedium and

Emerge to the new light with all of the

Love, and grace, and beauty;

Fill your lungs.

You are remarkable.

Stand and raise your glass. 

Welcome the sun, the lengthening day, and the

Fresh chance to move ahead with clarity,

A fierce, reenergized heart, each, and the

Fondness, and respect we have for each other Here, and those dear to us presently elsewhere–

To the sun!