Saturday, December 22, 2012

The Shortest Day




So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!"

- Susan Cooper, The Shortest Day

3 comments:

M.K. said...

What a delightful poem, Debbie -- I love this new perspective on humanity. Thank you! Is this the same Susan Cooper who is the children's book author?

Pom Pom said...

GREAT poem!

Sunday Taylor said...

Lovely poet, Debbie. I am always moved by the shortest day of the year, and in fact think there is another poem about it by Donne or Herbert? I remembering studying it in college. Thanks for letting us know about this one. Happy New Year!