#SeasonalSonnets: 21st Dec.

Hello my lovely readers!

Tonight's #SeasonalSonnets entry is a nod to the fact that today is the Winter Solstice (in the northern hemisphere at least - in the southern hemisphere it'll have been the opposite). As such, it is one of the oldest of the festivals that are celebrated at this time of year, and it shares with all of them a focus on the importance of light. This got me thinking about the literal and metaphorical significance of light as we reach the end of what has been a rather turbulent year to say the least - and how we may best harness the potential of both light and dark as we move into 2017.

It is accompanied, of course, by a 'light drawing' - because it may be tantamount to sacrilege if it weren't.

21^st December

Today I write in honour of the Solstice –

which, in this country, is the shortest day –

and how it must remind us we can halt this

fast looming dark before’t goes awry.

If we can all conserve a spark of light,

spread love and joy instead of hate and fear,

then p’raps we’ll grow a difference that just might

make 2017 a hopeful year.

Yet we must also wonder at the dark,

for’t may turn out to be a thing of peace,

a silent strength when facing those that bark,

to force their hateful noise to sooner cease.

I guess tonight, upon this winter Solstice,

I’m thinking of how light connects to justice.

Copyright Jessi Parrott December 2016