The longest nights have ended in my part of the world. Today we have racked up a minute’s worth of change from the solstice. Granted, this is imperceptible… but still… the changes will begin to speed up now. By January 5th, we’ll be adding over a minute to every day. By January 22, sunlight will lengthen over two minutes every day.
We could use some sun. It has been so dark. The snow on Midwinter’s Eve was lovely, and it is nice to be snug inside the house when the skies are impenetrable grey. But we’re all back to work again, and it’s still bleak. Today the fog was so thick all day we couldn’t see across the street. All day. Driving in the early morning grey was bad, but I drove home nearly blind. I heard someone call this weather “Spooky Christmas”. Well, driving in it is certainly scary.
Not as bad as what’s going on in the central plains though. I’ll take spooky over blizzard. Winter Storm Donovan is making a stately march eastward, wreaking havoc all along its several hundred mile width. It is weakening, but not fast enough to spare the big Midwest cities in the next couple days. I suspect there will be much camping in airports for New Year’s. I wonder if anyone will think to pack champagne.
Here in New England, the end of the year is going to be wet. The fog, rain and sleet are predicted to stay with us at least until Sunday. There is no sunshine anywhere in the 10-day forecast. I expect we’ll all be popping the vitamin D tablets by the fistful before long. I wish we could all just hunker down and sleep until Candlemas. This is only December and early in what is turning into an epic El Niño cycle. Donovan might just be remembered as a trifling preamble by the time this winter relents. I certainly wouldn’t be buying air travel tickets.
the scythe
swift hasten the years
in fleeting hopes and long twilights
long toils made shortened
by that end to which all must lead
when winter enfolds
the infant to cold barrenness
come, darkness, and soon
if this final hour must come
it is the prescient time that torments
and, so, swift be this moment
and all that may yet be
hasten to the sure dark portal
swift hasten these years
to the end of all time
sa tourne
the monster
the greatest god
time
generating heirs
swallowing his challengers
his children
he is entrenched
and the battle lines won’t move
oh, just never
but the future
revolution, revelation
is in conspiracy
the young ones are thinking
action will follow
oh, how soon
saturn, your time is limited
the blue thoughts
the yellow words
encircling you in green
— or perhaps red —
sa tourne, old man
your children will feed on you
as you do on them
stagnation
is but a breeding ground
for decomposition
there is no force
no philosophy
that restrains rebirth
your days are numbered
maybe five
or maybe six
but sa tourne
and the earth’s children
they are growing strong
saturn, your time is limited
the blue thoughts
the yellow words
encircling you in green
— or perhaps, just perhaps, red —
Wednesday Word
for 27 December 2023
infant
You can respond in the comments below or go visit the All Poetry contest for December. Your response can be anything made from words. I love poetry, but anything can be poetic and you needn’t even be limited to poetics. An observation, a story, a thought. Might even be an image — however, I am not a visual person, so it has to work harder to convey meaning. In the spirit of word prompts, it’s best if you use the word; but I’m not even a stickler about that. Especially if you can convey the meaning without ever touching the word.
If responding on All Poetry, you are limited to the forms of that medium, though my contests are fairly open as to form. However, if you have something long, post it in the comments below. That said, please don’t go too long. Keep it under 2000 words. I’m not going to count, but I’m also not promising to read a novel.
Unless it’s really good!
If you have nothing to say, that’s fine. I know you all are busy and distracted. But if you’ve read this far, then I’ve made you think about… infant.
©Elizabeth Anker 2023
By My Solitary Hearth 
We are looking out for some sun today after a stretch of unseasonably cold weather – having to wear a jacket in December is unusual. Your reference to snowed-in airports is particularly pertinent to us at the moment for my middle child is due to fly home to Glasgow via Amsterdam on Sunday: he is already keeping a close watch on reports about Storm Gerrit there.
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