The Wood River Valley’s resident poet Ed Northen has written an enormously powerful poem that takes us on a journey beginning with the Winter Solstice and reflects on the New Year and its possibilities, which will be dictated by the choices we make.
Journey to the New Year
BY ED NORTHEN
Winter’s Solstice inaugurates the journey
the long days of darkness
turning the corner
the earth
and its satellite moon
giving hints of hope
a gradual hope
barely seen
but the knowledge
of change is present.
Christmas follows
with its charity,
good will
and hope
which is not predicated
on orbits
and seasons
but pregnancy
and new birth
God breaking in
a trimester ripe with
hope
and love.
New Year’s
is implementation day
a do over
a restart
though the new year
has its weakness
its vulnerabilities
which is us
our human condition
our darkness
We have no influence
over celestial orbits
spring, summer and fall
will circle round again
to winter
as they have for eons
but we do possess
the sovereignty
of choice
choosing to allow
incarnate love
to transform
to bring light
into our darkness
to give new birth
On the first day
Of this new year