Autumn is passing its baton next Tuesday, December 21st to celebrate the end of its radiant season and the Winter Solstice. "This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year's threshold and unlocking, where the past lets go of and becomes the future; the place of caught breath." - Margaret Atwood, Canadian Poet
A Winter Solstice Wish
One must have a mind of winter.
Look at winter with winter eyes.
In the smell of the past,
A cold night crosses.
The sweet sense of black birch-
The browns, the olives, and the yellows died.
Close by the jolly fire I sit.
Frosty winds made moan.
The darkest evening of the year,
My heart wears you like curtains.
Wanted: one moment in mountains.
©CV, 2021
Background photo by chandler-cruttenden on Unsplash.
Sources for Winter Solstice Wish
Cento Poem
The Snow Man - Wallace Stevens
Winter Eyes - Douglas Florian
November for Beginners - Rita Dove
Winter Solstice - Hilda Morley
Winter Eyes - Douglas Florian
Winter Song - Wilfred Owen
Winter-Time- Robert Louis Stevenson
A Christmas Carol - Christina Rossetti
Stopping By Woods on a Frosty Evening - Robert Frost
Between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice, Today - Emily Jungmin Yoon
Horses in Snow - Roberta Hill Whiteman
Listen to the calming Celtic song, Winter Solstice Song, by Lisa Thiel.
May the miracles of the winter solstice inspire you.
Today is Poetry Friday at Jone Rush MacCulloch's blog. Click here to see the poetic goodness Jone offers as this week's host. Thank you Jone for sharing your amazing double golden shovel poem and news about the New Year Poetry Postcards Event.
If time permits, I will add the last edition of my Bedecked In Autumn Gallery tomorrow. Jone and two of her students are featured in the final gallery edition. Stay tuned.
What wonderful lines you have collected in your cento. I especially love the first line by Wallace Stevens.
ReplyDeleteI find Cento writing to be full of research and then design. I enjoy the format and I think you would also.
DeleteBeautiful lines chosen, Carol. I think I'll look for every poem, some already favorites, but some I don't know! Thank you! Wishing you & the family the merriest of Christmas times & Happy Solstice!
ReplyDeleteHappy Solstice to you too, Linda. Thank you for your comments about the lines I chose. I think the centro format suits me because I love researching topics and designing new poems.
DeleteFabulous job with your cento, Carol. So many well chosen lines in perfect order! Thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful holiday season and Happy Solstice!
ReplyDeleteCarol, I have never tried a cento, but you have offered me a lovely mentor text. I am drawn to many of the lines, but I especially love "Close by the jolly fire I sit." It bring a smile! Your image with the poem is beautiful also. Many good wishes to you for a Merry Christmas season.
ReplyDeleteKaren, I spent a long time rearranging lines in the cento to make it flow with thoughts. Thank you for visiting here and I hope to see a cento one day at your blog.
DeleteYou and I were on the same solstice wavelength, Carol! Great minds and great cento. :)
ReplyDeleteCarol, "Look at winter with winter eyes." is my favorite line. It is so important to look for the beauty of each season. Happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteLovely, Carol--I too love the line "look at winter with winter eyes."
ReplyDeleteI'm with you -- lots of the fun in writing a cento is the research!
ReplyDeleteWOW! How fun to write and more fun to read. What a mindful activity as well. Love your creation of knit together lines.
ReplyDeleteLinda,I am obsessed with the cento format so I appreciate the quiet time at night to write. Have a wonderful holiday with your young adult children. I am sure that sitting in the kitchen talking is such a wonderful experience.
DeleteThis cento came out beautifully! Yes, a meditative and mindful activity of creation.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite lines from your cento are:
ReplyDelete"My heart wears you like curtains.
Wanted: one moment in mountains."
lovely imagery, and ah for that "one moment in mountains…" Thanks Carol!
I totally agree with you, Michelle. Oh, for that Hallmark moment!
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