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