Sharing the dark...Larry Smith

Winter Solstice

I search our dark house finding clocks
to be reset before going to bed then
rise in morning when daylight savings
falls away so our alarms are not late and
yet we know that nothing is saved or lost
just a measure re-gauged like February’s
compensation day or a hopscotch of
stepping on no lines but skipping a block
or two making our choices.

My wife takes my hand to go into the woods
a setting sun behind a darkness rising through trees
before us as for winter solstice settles round us
gathered round a fire staring into it remembering
while watching sparks fly up from dancing orange light
as we each turn to utter speech across the
flames yet drinking the silences of
passing and becoming.

And he in bright kente skullcap while she raising
her bare arms in welcoming and beckoning
one woman calls her prayer for forgiveness another
confesses her love of nature and my wife sings to
birthing and caring then to our welcoming darkness
as we all sway and hum till no one wants
to go home but stay in this burning of moments,
the night air flowing over and through us
like a song. 

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