Northern Light

…this prince among princes was made out of love…

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‘Twas the night before Christmas towards the end of the year

The birth of a child was soon drawing near

One mother, one carpenter travelling far

Ventured ‘cross deserts lit by a star

They sought a warm place to rest for the night

Inn after inn, no room was in sight

“We’re sorry…we’re full” the keepers would say,

Again and again they were just turned away

About to give in, collapse and give up

Heard off in the distance was the sound of a pup

Then bounding right towards the, these knockers of doors,

Was what to their wonder was this friend on all fours

Having the gift of tongues he then said

It seems that you two are seeking a bed

Joseph then turned to his lovely new bride,

She nodded yes and joyfully cried

The beauty of anointment was making her glow

And trusting in Him she said they should go

Then Mary settled down, reclined on some hay

Joseph was nervous (fathers get that way)

Just as his worry tried directing his thought

Gloria spoke from thin air “Ye worry not..”

“…this child was made by the angels, the angels above.

This prince among princes was made out of love.”

Then swaddled and laid down in his soft bed

Resting so soundly was His sweet head

With eyes of the deepest, deepest of blue,

The child let out a giggle or two

All that were present could just stand in awe

(Save for the cow as she’d cud in her jaw)

To all their amazement was a wondrous sight

Two turtle doves flew across the great light

Lyrically joyous their song was elated

They sang of the glory to that which was fated

This babe was the king, was God’s only son

Our Messiah was here….he was the One

This story continues to share in the praise

There were three kings, made wise by their ways

One from the north and one from the west

One from the south but none was the best

Each carried gifts of gold, frankincense, myrrh

Donned in their colors, their cloaks lined with fur

Humbled they were, these great kings three

Honored to share and finally see

These visitors had travelled from near and from far,

Had been led by the very same star

That Joseph and Mary and the child that would come

Would all keep time to a very different drum

All who were touched by His great grace

Could not help be but with a smile on their face

Even the wife of the innkeeper Saul,

Realized her strife was nothing at all

Believing the prophet, words said once again,

The messiah was coming, the prince among men

Through the omnipotent ways of God’s sacred kin

A son was now here forgiving our sin

As we all celebrate this time of year,

May you and yours be met with tidings of cheer

And in this season filled with great mirth,

May we always remember the day of His birth.

The Cremation of Care

Where spiders congregate
in forest deep
Redwoods see the trees
Through thickets thinned
a clearing made as glorious
Rings tossed in for dancing fares and
Gadabouts coming out to play
Shucking worlds’ roles of ruling robes
and cloaks of duty’s calling
they exhale forthwith exalted
Heard afar, a to-whit a-woo, oh who?
An owl carving carefully watches
perched precariously
on precipices of wiley limbs
steady talons tight
Wings spanning centuries wider
han ancient groves
Eyes open spying hunger for
growth satiating
Soon upon some say prey
stirring deep in thicket
Overlord is he
of then and now
and then again unfolding
Wisdom now surveyed
Swooping graciously gathering dust
then flitting off turning all to gold
Once upon a time once more
Settling within the
encampment
a branch on high lowered
Below between
dappled path
A creature begins to stir
Rising up through mire
sweet leaves’ erosion
Earth pushed aside
soft and cool and dark
Rich with promise
a creek runs babbling
On and on
about this and that
Overseeing all
whilst hearing everything of
nothingness of
Hysterical masses soothed by
A gathering brood
Collecting lost souls seeking
all for naught and night breaks
As pyres burn
temptation damned
Where spiders congregate
in forest deep
Redwoods see the trees
Through thickets thinned
a clearing made
Rings tossed in for dancing fares and
Gadabouts coming out to play
Shucking worlds’ roles of ruling robes
and cloaks of duty’s calling
they exhale forthwith exalted
Heard afar, a to-whit a-woo, oh who?
An owl carving carefully watches
perched precariously
on precipices of wiley limbs
steady talons tight
Wings spanning centuries wider
than ancient groves
Eyes open spying hunger for
growth satiating
Soon upon some say prey
stirring deep in thicket
Overlord is he
of then and now
and then again unfolding
Wisdom now surveyed
Swooping graciously gathering dust
then flitting off turning all to gold
Once upon a time once more
Settling within the
encampment
a branch on high lowered
Below between
dappled path
A creature begins to stir
Rising up through mire
sweet leaves’ erosion
Earth pushed aside
soft and cool and dark
Rich with promise
a creek runs babbling
On and on
about this and that
Overseeing all
whilst hearing everything of
nothingness of
Hysterical masses soothed by
A gathering brood
Collecting lost souls seeking
all for naught and night breaks
As pyres burn
temptation damned
souls resign their warrior state
Of this hidden earthly Valhalla
Illuminated from behind celebratory
shadows of power revealed
They came to see the moon.
They came to see the light.
Dancing under spectacle of moonlight wisdom and transforming
souls resign their warrior state
Of this hidden earthly Valhalla
Illuminated from behind celebratory
shadows of power revealed their true power.
They came to congregate.
They came seeking solace.
They came to frolic in celebratory manner.
They came to see the moon.
They,
like us all,
came to see the light.

The Cremation of Care

“…they came to see the light…”

Where spiders congregate
in forest deep
Redwoods see the trees
Through thickets thinned
a clearing made as glorious
Rings tossed in for dancing fares and
Gadabouts coming out to play
Shucking worlds’ roles of ruling robes
and cloaks of duty’s calling
they exhale forthwith exalted
Heard afar, a to-whit a-woo, oh who?
An owl carving carefully watches
perched precariously
on precipices of wiley limbs
steady talons tight
Wings spanning centuries wider
han ancient groves
Eyes open spying hunger for
growth satiating
Soon upon some say prey
stirring deep in thicket
Overlord is he
of then and now
and then again unfolding
Wisdom now surveyed
Swooping graciously gathering dust
then flitting off turning all to gold
Once upon a time once more
Settling within the
encampment
a branch on high lowered
Below between
dappled path
A creature begins to stir
Rising up through mire
sweet leaves’ erosion
Earth pushed aside
soft and cool and dark
Rich with promise
a creek runs babbling
On and on
about this and that
Overseeing all
whilst hearing everything of
nothingness of
Hysterical masses soothed by
A gathering brood
Collecting lost souls seeking
all for naught and night breaks
As pyres burn
temptation damned
Where spiders congregate
in forest deep
Redwoods see the trees
Through thickets thinned
a clearing made
Rings tossed in for dancing fares and
Gadabouts coming out to play
Shucking worlds’ roles of ruling robes
and cloaks of duty’s calling
they exhale forthwith exalted
Heard afar, a to-whit a-woo, oh who?
An owl carving carefully watches
perched precariously
on precipices of wiley limbs
steady talons tight
Wings spanning centuries wider
than ancient groves
Eyes open spying hunger for
growth satiating
Soon upon some say prey
stirring deep in thicket
Overlord is he
of then and now
and then again unfolding
Wisdom now surveyed
Swooping graciously gathering dust
then flitting off turning all to gold
Once upon a time once more
Settling within the
encampment
a branch on high lowered
Below between
dappled path
A creature begins to stir
Rising up through mire
sweet leaves’ erosion
Earth pushed aside
soft and cool and dark
Rich with promise
a creek runs babbling
On and on
about this and that
Overseeing all
whilst hearing everything of
nothingness of
Hysterical masses soothed by
A gathering brood
Collecting lost souls seeking
all for naught and night breaks
As pyres burn
temptation damned
souls resign their warrior state
Of this hidden earthly Valhalla
Illuminated from behind celebratory
shadows of power revealed
They came to see the moon.
They came to see the light.
Dancing under spectacle of moonlight wisdom and transforming
souls resign their warrior state
Of this hidden earthly Valhalla
Illuminated from behind celebratory
shadows of power revealed their true power.
They came to congregate.
They came seeking solace.
They came to frolic in celebratory manner.
They came to see the moon.
They,
like us all,
came to see the light.

Dolores the Daffodil

“…just be mellow…”

Dolores,

such a patient Daffodil,

sat in waiting

deep upon a hill.

As Winter chills

slowly eased,

there she was, well….

quite mildly pleased

in knowing to

just be mellow

she’d soon burst into

bright sun yellow.

Waving bye-bye

to frostier days,

she would herald

coming warmer days.

Her lessons she gives

to one and to all

Is:

always get back up

after you fall;

Even on the coldest, darkest day

light will always in all ways

find a way

to reappear before our eyes

bringing us out of demise;

If, in the right circumstance,

we’ll find the right music and get up and dance;

To let us know

our love will grow;

despite the layers of manure,

we can always, always endure;

with patience

and a dose of love

we’ll always find

a reason to rise above.

The Songs of Mariah

“… feet firmly in the air…”

With autumn closing in sounds of the wild side walkers stepped in tune to the music in the valley
Facing towards the sky and feet firmly in the air what was needed was finally found
Tambourine shakes climbing higher as the sun shone bright and shimmied in the bar queen’s opening hands
Wrapped up in roses without thorn and honkey tonk blues brought the crowd to a sublime state dancing in rhythm hum each step brought them closer to glee
Fueled by love and tequila rise sunsets

Maeve

“…side by side among her people stronger…”

Maeve sets down her septor held high

stepping away from throne and shedding crown

Casting aside jewels and dowry

In exchange for shield, steed and saber

Defending her tribe high on moors and heath

side by side among her people stronger

Uprising from strife of kingdom’s coming

Gaelic tongue speaking warrior language

worn with honor badgering resistance

Familial flashings with fury confronting

fishy contexts webbing tartans clan’s colors

showing through strong though threadbare

Stone faced and cold

granite plows into peat bogs

as cattle feel at home among grass and clover

Digging deep no amount could sway her

into the hillside dotted with sheep

peeping as heaving roads

rising up to meet in passive fury

a battle has begun

The countryside awakens

haziness rises in billows from

paths beaten but n’er forgot a soothsayer

storytellers sounds off spinning tales

eavesdrop just beyond window pane

of thatch covered roof

Donning velvet green heavy

under moss and Shamrock

Ready to break ancient spell of a nearby isle

Herding dogs race against fence’s clearing

against fence’s clearing as warriors defend the line

Bramble swiftly

Drawing in the flock

With hook and sentiment

Their fur cloaked with intensity and instinct

Lifts in tufts stained with berries

from patch and thornwith berries from

 

Knots woven tight and true

tight and true, aye, the battle won

Hunters pull in stock and barrel

along the harbor at land’s end stock

finding peace once again

in the emerald kingdom

Preparing for the feast

of victorious proportion

Tiny Angel

“…comfort and joy.”

 

        As the scent of giving thanks barely fading

 

 the pagan festival of winter begins

 

Yonder breaks and timbers a mighty evergreen

 

crack, tumble and falling gently

 

upon clouds of driven snow with a flurry

 

Sugarplum fairies and nutcrackers sweet dance

 

We frolic with our wide-eyes lit by stars

 

twirling ’round and ’round garlands green 

 

holly and the ivy adorning branches

 

testimony to the cycle of life

 

Appearing on high rests an angel

 

winged light and gossamer hair lifts silvery

 

within her arms cradles are our dreams

 

holding with goodwill and peace to all

 

Patient and silent on this night

 

willingly guiding us to the light

 

Leading us to regain lost hope

 

during this season of love

 

offering a cup of wonder from which to drink

 

quenching parch with fine mulled cheer

 

We raise our glasses to the festival of light

 

creating another memory of

 

comfort and joy.