The World Whispers in Wonder

December marks the end of this year. Winter arrives quietly, and the Poetry Sisters (Tanita, Laura, Mary Lee, Liz, Sara, Tricia, and Kelly) encourage #PoetryPals to join their December challenge. They are composing haibuns, beautifully brief melanges of a prose poem and haiku, as created by Matsuo Bashō.

I reflect on the winter scene photographed by my daughter in 2015 and the quote by the marvelous poet, Lee Bennett Hopkins to write my haibun.

The world whispers in wonder as winter's serene beauty glistens across the snow. Trees at ski resorts tipped in white frosting create a snowdrop wonderland. Areas without sparkling snow find beauty among leafless trees and seasonal greenery. Some days reflecting on nature's serene beauty is a common practice. Other days are pampered by the sun in the south or drizzling rain in drought-ridden areas. Whether you find winter etched in a canopy of frosted elegance or enveloped in a golden sunrise, know that winter blankets Earth in various styles. Time for a quiet self-care pause.

early december stillness
embraces fall's fading breath
winter arrives

CVarsalona, 2024 haibun

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Is hosted by Artist/Poet Michelle Kogan

who is also participating in the Poetry Sisters December Challenge.

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Note: My book review of Clara's Kooky Compendium of ThimbleThoughts and WonderFuzz created by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong can be found here. I am honored that my poem, Would You Like To Bake?, is published in the new book.

Winter Solstice 2023 Brings Light Amongst Darkness

Happy Winter Solstice!

It's the time of year when nightime comes earlier and covers the earth with an inky darkness. December shares her admiration for illumination with Winter's grand entrance on the Winter Solstice. With the weather a bit darkened and cold surrounding, I heated a cup of herbal tea, paused to contemplate before finished decorating our new Christmas tree. I added an extra light around the topper and ornamental memories. 

lights

glitter against

December's cold darkness

bringing brightness and hope

luminescence

©CV, 2023

A special thanks goes to Margaret Simon who offered time to reflect at her This Photo Wants to be a Poem blog . I created another elfchen poem (see above). 

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Then, off to the Nutcracker Ballet I went for a family holiday event followed by a delicious dinner at Medium Rare, and a stop-off at a charming, fully-lit house with a bright, creative outside theme. This led to a cherita (story) poem. 

Nutcracker

a magical ballet

sparking the imagination

of two little girls

who dream of possibilities

beyond the winter solstice  

©CV, 2023

When pulling into my community at the end of the day, I realized  there is magic in the darkness. Holiday lights illuminate houses and streets bringing good cheer. Luminaries light pathways and hope is in the night air. 

Merry Christmas 2023 from our House to Yours

Love lights more lives than hate extinguishes. ~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

May you be filled with light and joy this weekend while

waiting for the Divine Light to enter this world.

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While it's late on Friday, the Poetry Friday community is still gathering at our host, Jone Rush McCulloch's blog here. She writes of the Winter Solstice and her day of celebration in prose and poems. 

Winter Light In The Dark

Eight days ago, December announced her runway debut with easy strides to end the year with joy. Her first task was to shorten daylight and let darkness bring a sense of chilled calm to earth. During these first days of December, I looked for traces of light flickering in the darkness. I sat by the fireplace watching flames flicker warming the chilled rooms. While I cherish the silence of darkness, I also enjoy the brightness of lights, especially at the holidays. 

To keep the light shining in our home, we had pathway lights and spotlights installed illuminating our new trees. One Magnolia specimen tree stands proudly in each seat wall garden area. In addition, the front of our house has a new bush, a Ruby Falls Red Bud. It's devoid of its leaves now but arches gracefully. Each night, a long strand of lights and six round balls illuminate the front garden attesting to Mahatma Gandhi's quote, "In the midst of darkness, light persists." In the Bible, John 1:5 states, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." 

darkness

shortens day

earth waits patiently

for a Silent Lght's

arrival

©CVarsalona, 2023

German Elfchen cinquain poem

Jone MacCullock, the host of the December Spiritual Journey Thursday, invited our community of writers to ponder several questions on Light and Dark.

1. How do you honor/embrace this time of darkness?
2. Where do you find the points of light in your life?
3. In a few weeks, the winter solstice will be here, how do you honor this and Christmas?
4. How do you use this time of year for self-reflection? 

Reflection is warranted during the last month of the year. I honor December's time of darkness with firelight, warm blankets, and spotlights on our new trees. Finding points of light begins and ends with the real meaning of Christmas. "Longing for light, we wait in darkness. Longing for truth, we turn to You. Make us you own, your holy people, light for the world to see." (Christ Be Our Light song) 

"We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light the candle that can guide us through the darkness to a safe and sane future." (John F. Kennedy)

While the sun is shining and the outside temperature mild, I continue to sit and stare at the magnolia trees and the beginnings of Christmas decorations. I will invite you inside when the preparations are ready for a showing. In the meantime, follow me to Jone Mac Culloch's Spiritual Journey Thursday blog and the Poetry Friday Roundup hosted by Patricia Franz on her blog. While Jone chose the theme for Spiritual Journey Thursday, I think Patricia's Dear Santa post allows for reflection also. There are so many people in our lives and on this earth that need light this year. The holidays are the best time to remember all and send good wishes.