by John Henry Twachtman
I cannot tell you
how the light comes.
What I know
is that it is more ancient
than imagining.
That it travels
across an astounding expanse
to reach us.
That it loves
searching out
what is hidden
what is lost
what is forgotten
or in peril
or in pain.
That it has a fondness
for the body
for finding its way
toward flesh
for tracing the edges
of form
for shining forth
through the eye,
the hand,
the heart.
I cannot tell you
how the light comes,
but that it does.
That it will.
That it works its way
into the deepest dark
that enfolds you,
though it may seem
long ages in coming
or arrive in a shape
you did not foresee.
And so
may we this day
turn ourselves toward it.
May we lift our faces
to let it find us.
May we bend our bodies
to follow the arc it makes.
May we open
and open more
and open still
to the blessed light
that comes.
~ Jan Richardson
(How the Light Comes)
Amen! Happy solstice, Barbara!
Thank you, Eliza! 🎄
So, so, so true and beautifully written. I sat with it for awhile as heartfelt, Barbara. Joy continues to visit several times a day. Mr & Mrs Golden come when the sun shines. The blue sky opened about thirty minutes ago. The critters shall follow to find nutrition. Enjoy Winter Solstice!
I’m so glad this poem resonated with you, Teri. I had Tim read it out loud to our guests before our solstice dinner this year. (When I try to read poetry out loud it tends to make me choke up and fight back tears, but he is steady and has good voice modulation.) It’s good to know you’re enjoying the visits of your birds and critters! 🎄
A perfect pairing of prose and painting once again Barbara – beautiful! And now, with darkness having descended here shortly after 5:00 p.m., tomorrow we will creep slowly toward the Summer Solstice … yes, I know I will inevitably whine about the heat and humidity and those volatile Summer storms, but the idea of those few precious minutes more of daylight daily brings me joy today.
Thank you so much, Linda! Without snow here winter doesn’t have the same appeal as it did up north, so I am also looking forward to the sun returning and bringing that beautiful springtime light I enjoyed so much last year. We have some more cardinals foraging on the ground in our yard this winter. They are bright spots in the dreary landscape, even the females are standing out. After the holiday madness is behind me I will try to get some pictures. 🎄
I can’t send any snow your way Barbara, even though I promised you some. We had our third snowfall last night, but it was mixed with sleet and didn’t amount to more than an inch. It was very slippery, so no walk for me. I’m going to make my goal next time I walk, so no worries about getting in a walk on slick streets and sidewalks and the Park path will be bad as they cleared all the brush along the Creek shoreline. I hope to get to the Park tomorrow and finish my miles as we have fog and rain over the next week.
I do love seeing the cardinals and I got a few shots at the Park the other day of some. I can’t get too close or they are timid and bolt. I need a brave one like Jocelyn Anderson’s “Queen of the Boardwalk”!
Jocelyn Anderson’s “Queen of the Boardwalk” is quite the spunky cardinal, what a personality! I do look forward to seeing her eating out her hand, especially in the scenic, snowy winter months.
Yes, she is spunky and her mate always hangs back on the top of the railing, although the other day he did sneak over and he grabbed a peanut barely “touching down” on Jocelyn Anderson’s fingers. I got a kick out of the Red-bellied Woodpecker in a video today as it “settled in” and ate about five or six treats before taking one to go. What fun that must be having them visit like that. I had hoped one day to gain the confidence of the birds at Council Point Park to do that, but I don’t think it will happen. At Kensington Metropark’s Nature Center a lot of people feed the birds, so they are fearless about landing and partaking of the goodies offered.
Perfectly lovely, Barbara — thank you for sharing it!
Thank you, Debbie! I’m so pleased to know you enjoyed the pairing! 🎄