Slow and stately, majestic Sun climbs the cold sky
in his gown of gold flames spreadin’ warmth upon earth,
now the time of the end-of-year solstice be nigh
as we waken from Winter in wondrous rebirth.
in his gown of gold flames spreadin’ warmth upon earth,
now the time of the end-of-year solstice be nigh
as we waken from Winter in wondrous rebirth.
In his gown of gold flames spreadin’ warmth upon earth,
Sun ascends over fields, over forests and hills
as we waken from Winter in wondrous rebirth
and from day to day part from the season of chills.
Sun ascends over fields, over forests and hills
as we waken from Winter in wondrous rebirth
and from day to day part from the season of chills.
Sun ascends over fields, over forests and hills,
in their barns, sheep and cows dream of fresh grass in Spring
and from day to day part from the season of chills
to the upsurgin’ age, when Green Jack becomes King.
in their barns, sheep and cows dream of fresh grass in Spring
and from day to day part from the season of chills
to the upsurgin’ age, when Green Jack becomes King.
In their barns, sheep and cows dream of fresh grass in Spring,
blackbirds, robins, crows call from their feathery nests
to the upsurgin’ age, when Green Jack becomes King
and we venture outside without wearin’ our vests.
blackbirds, robins, crows call from their feathery nests
to the upsurgin’ age, when Green Jack becomes King
and we venture outside without wearin’ our vests.
Blackbirds, robins, crows call from their feathery nests,
deep in woods, lusty flickers stoke velvety moles,
and we venture outside without wearin’ our vests,
rabbits peep eager eyed from their hibernal holes.
deep in woods, lusty flickers stoke velvety moles,
and we venture outside without wearin’ our vests,
rabbits peep eager eyed from their hibernal holes.
Deep in woods, lusty flickers stoke velvety moles,
tiny buds form on oak, and on beech, and on birch,
rabbits peep eager eyed from their hibernal holes
pigeons practise love’s ditties on horse-chestnut perch.
tiny buds form on oak, and on beech, and on birch,
rabbits peep eager eyed from their hibernal holes
pigeons practise love’s ditties on horse-chestnut perch.
Tiny buds form on oak, and on beech, and on birch,
seed-sprouts start their slow crawl to the fertile soil top,
pigeons practise love’s ditties on horse-chestnut perch,
on the hill, farmer stands and surveys his young crop.
seed-sprouts start their slow crawl to the fertile soil top,
pigeons practise love’s ditties on horse-chestnut perch,
on the hill, farmer stands and surveys his young crop.
Seed-sprouts start their slow crawl to the fertile soil top
now the time of the end-of-year solstice be nigh,
on the hill, farmer stands and surveys his young crop,
slow and stately, majestic Sun climbs the cold sky.
now the time of the end-of-year solstice be nigh,
on the hill, farmer stands and surveys his young crop,
slow and stately, majestic Sun climbs the cold sky.
Welcome to Poem of the Month for December!
Here is the poem published on the official Happenstance site last month. It’s a pantoum that celebrates passing the darkest day of the year and moving towards the Spring.
I wasn’t sure whether there was any association between the Winter Solstice and Morris, so I emailed Cressida for guidance. Her response was positive and she provided many useful pieces of information to inspire my poem. A thousand thanks to Cressida from the P-i-R!
Any readers interested in the pantoum form are welcome to read my notes on the first such piece I composed for Happenstance, at http://happenstancepoetry.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/isbourne.html
Happy Solstice!
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