Thursday, December 30, 2021

I WAIT FOR YOU (NEW YEAR's EVE 2021)

"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come. Whispering: 'It will be happier'. " -Tennyson

Sunset burned into  snow. The last of the old year ready to vanish.  She stood  on the porch, in the chill. Like she had stood for so many New Years eves. All was quiet. All was well. Waiting for the year to start over. 

“I wait for you……” she thought. Like she did every year.

She could see the road  stretching out. Or at least where she supposed the road to be.  Old Christmas lights hung  perilously, like glittering hunks of jello. 

There was crying in the night.  From the wind scratching in the trees. The New Year was fast approaching.  It was Watch Night. Yes, I wait for you……

She wrapped a blanket around her shoulders.   In her dreams darkness faded away. But this was no dream. And the New Year was tumbling closer. 

“Hush now, you can hear the angels sing” Her breath spun in mists.

If she  whispered his name, would she see him……

The night  was softly quiet. She was getting too old to be waiting in the snow.But she had promised him. Every New Years she would  be here.

She sang lullaby in the night. In the velvet, snow laden mist. 

Lullay lullay, beyond the rising sun . She sang the old carol. His favourite. She sang it to the snow.

Lullay lullay….

“Hush now, hear the angels sing”

A small  child slipped onto the porch and tucked his small hand into hers.
She lifted him up. As best she could. Her grandson wrapped his arms about her neck.  
And the bells pealed forth from far and wide.

“He hears us. ” 

Her grandson marveled at the sounds and the  fireworks in the sky. 
Neighbours  gathered on their porches banging pots and pans and ringing bells , and shouting Happy New Year. 
It was a wonderful sound. 

“I wait for  you…….”  She thought she heard him.

“We will whisper his name. “ She  held her grandson close. 

And the bells of the New Year rang forth. And she was not afraid, because  joy shone through all of the dark to bring light.

Photographs 2021                  Happy New Year!
 

Monday, December 27, 2021

AT Minus 20 Celsius

"Winter is a season that sparkles with magic and transforms our ordinary world into a glittering kingdom"- Abi Elphinstone

"I like these cold, grey winter days.." - Bill Watterson

"Christmas isn't just a day..." -Valentine Davies
"Christmas. It brings people together while time stands still...."

                                                                                                    -Rachel Cohn

"Snow always makes me think of ice cream..." -Jane Wilson-Howith

"This is the message of Christmas....we are never alone...." -Taylor Caldwell
"Snow falling soundlessly in the middle of the night..." -Novala Takemoto
"Every snowflake I caught was a miracle unlike any other...."

                                             -Alice Hoffman


"Christmas is a tonic for our souls...." - B.C. Forbes

"Snow is covering us. Close your eyes and sleep. Close your eyes and dream. This is one story. There will be another...." -Jeanette Winterson
                                "Winter is not just a season, it is a celebration.." -Anamika Mishra
"The earth has grown old , with its burden of care, but at Christmas it is young...." -Phillips Brooks

"Sometimes I would like to be a child again...." - Deirdre Sullivan
"All that is gold does not glitter.  Not all those who wander are lost. The old that is strong does not wither. Deep roots are not reached by the frost...." -J.R.R. Tolkien
Photographs 2021 Christmas Week
 

Monday, December 20, 2021

MAGI (Christmas 2021)

"Once in our world a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.." -C.S. Lewis
A corpulent  moon slumbered and died. Night waned and fell into the dusk that was almost dawn, but was not. Dark in the wind ,  he hurried along the street, thick with snow. Sleet  slapped at his cloak and the pack he carried . 
It had been a long journey. He watched the storm rage ,like  sands of the desert, as it tossed  souls into the passage of time.
He must keep moving. Must keep on…

His breath fell from speechless words. He uttered  no sound. He felt no cold. 

Dazed with wonder,he could not believe  he had been there. Together,  they had been with Him. Stood there. Kneeled on rough floors. Warmed their hands at His fire.

Their gifts of perfume fell at His feet. He felt afraid, and confused. Beyond the world, as he knew it. He remembered it now. Even though it was not far off in memory.

“I saw Him”  he thought to himself. “I saw Him…”

He  Dreamed sweet dreams,  as candles lit our way. We stood there,not knowing why we came. Why we found Him….Why He found us.

His throne was of tattered rags and hay to keep him warm. Smoke hung in the air,from the smoldering  fire  burnt so low.

“He looked at me” He said aloud to no one in particular.

I am no one. But He is king of us all. “He saw me….”

“And I saw Him. He. Saw. Me.” He wondered.

Mercy  follows me, he thought.  I must keep moving. He knew that there would be those who would try to find him. 

So he trudged on. Into the night. Into the bleak midwinter.

They had come from a long ways. Followed the skies. Followed that star that vanished when they reached Him. He felt evening  rain turn to snow. Their hearts lingered with Him. They did not stay long. Time was of the essence.    

“I weary….I weary of this world,” He said aloud to no one in particular. 

The path led to him, and now in the night his lonely world was gone. 

“I hear you now”

The star that led  to Him, had long gone. Replaced with ice and wind. He had to make his way home.They would be following him . And the others.  The snow would cover their tracks.  He must hurry.This wild morning of snow and shadow.

“He saw me”

This haunting, magical night.

He quickened his pace and pressed onwards. Ever onwards.The road home beckoned. No longer weary. No longer afraid. His journey beyond the moon, sheltered in the night. And blew on till he was lost in the distance…..

Photographs 2021