I completely spaced on the solstice yesterday, though I had been looking forward to it. So, a day late, here’s my traditional solstice post. I think I’ll stick with the same two verses as last year.<\/p>\n
First, from T. S. Eliot’s “Burnt Norton” (1935):<\/p>\n
\n\nAt the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;<\/p>\n
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,<\/p>\n
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,<\/p>\n
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,<\/p>\n
Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,<\/p>\n
There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.<\/p>\n
I can only say, there we have been: but I cannot say where.<\/p>\n
And I cannot say, how long, for that is to place it in time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
And second, my traditional quote of my favorite lines from Susan Cooper’s poem “The Shortest Day<\/a>,” which is seeming even more relevant than usual:<\/p>\n
\n\nAs promise wakens in the sleeping land:<\/p>\n
They carol, feast, give thanks,<\/p>\n
And dearly love their friends,<\/p>\n
And hope for peace.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n