Solstice

When horizon billows ashen,
The daystar becomes recluse,
And as daylight is in ration,
December frost will seduce,
The entire hemisphere.

As the evening shades expand,
The soul pines the missing light,
With every falling grain of sand,
Knees and spines curve contrite,
Pray cool atmosphere.

Once god Saturn was beseeched,
In gifts, candles, songs, and fete,
Virtues of this god were preached,
In slim hope that he could abate,
The climate austere.

As lord Mithras ‘ere remembered,
As this Persian unconquered sun,
His light-filled reign was assured,
At midwinter to have but begun,
Igniting luminous sphere.

Jews received the gift of oil,
The lamps burning eight days long,
Brothers — Seleucid plans did foil,
To a Holy temple, the faithful throng,
In never-ending cheer.

Into this darkness a light has shone,
Word to rekindle that which is fair,
Into the darkness births a new dawn,
Yet devils shadow o’er each prayer,
But in all, Love will adhere,

Evermore.