Winter Solstice

As the Solstice dark nears—
Even Sol turns in early
To avoid the ice blown wind.
Seasonal affective—
She settles down in,
Each day grows more dim.

On Winter Solstice dawn
We kindle fires to honor her, 
Light candles to encourage her—
Hold space to help her rise.
Slowly, she reappears—
Something we never rush—

Because healing takes honest time.

Warm yellows upon cold blues,
Out from the slumbering depths
She yawns, stretches anew.
Smiling above the horizon
Her new energy folds the dark—
Our clasped hands never part.

Her vibrant light continues to grow
As our glowing love does too—
Warmth upon our goosebump skin.
She’s now brimming with pride
And we dance away the cold—
Our thoughts toward the coming Spring tide.

It is such a dark time of year in many ways. The actual Winter Solstice brings the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. That is because the Earth’s axial tilt, or obliquity, positions us further from the sun. It is also cold and we tend to stay in.

It is a time of inner reflection. The year is coming to a close, and we consider what we have or have not accomplished. We may be withdrawn between holiday festivities. Some even experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) due to the lack of sunlight.

With this poem, I tried to capture all of that by anthropomorphizing the sun into someone who is becoming withdrawn and depressed. When we provide space and give her time to heal. Soon, she finds herself again and rises, growing and sending out her love.

Thank you for reading! 😊