The winter solstice arrived in the northern hemisphere about six hours ago. (And the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere, of course.) Here\u2019s my usual reposting of some winter-solstice verses.<\/p>\r\n
First, an excerpt from T. S. Eliot\u2018s \u201cBurnt Norton\u201d (1935):<\/p>\r\n
\r\n\r\nAt the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;<\/p>\r\n
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,<\/p>\r\n
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,<\/p>\r\n
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,<\/p>\r\n
Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,<\/p>\r\n
There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.<\/p>\r\n
I can only say, there we have been: but I cannot say where.<\/p>\r\n
And I cannot say, how long, for that is to place it in time.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n
Second, my favorite lines from Susan Cooper\u2018s poem \u201cThe Shortest Day<\/a>\u201d:<\/p>\r\n
\r\n\r\nAs promise wakens in the sleeping land:<\/p>\r\n
They carol, feast, give thanks,<\/p>\r\n
And dearly love their friends,<\/p>\r\n
And hope for peace.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n