Another Solstice Poem by Gabrielle Ciarann Roniyah Baer

A winter's rain washed away the snow
making this new old home seem more like the old new one
reminding me of gray, wet winters,
where I took so many walks
loving the green hills and the white, far-off peaks

A winter's snow softened the seer, dry fields and yards
making this old new home seem more like my childhood's playground
A year ago I crunched out on hills of snow,
bundled like a toddler against the bitter air
A year ago I talked of hopes and dreams
I felt we all had those, and to spare

This year, like the fields,
I'm softened, quietened
by a blanket of clouds
this year I have smaller hopes
and milder dreams
for smaller crowds

But something hasn't changed this winter
Something never will
The wheel turns towards the longest night,
The earth Herself stands ready to hold still.

And Solstice comes again,
to shine in our hearts like the peaceful smile of a friend
to warm our thoughts like the grasp of a kind hand,
to cheer our hopes like the embrace of a much missed love.
It will always come
It will always shine
It will always warm
It will always give us pause
to hope, to dream and to love.

(written, December,2004)