Dropping like rain,
I fall into a new year
of starless nights
and wet gray dawns,
when crows return
to silent evergreens
as I search and shovel
to excavate joy.
The earth opens,
then down I tumble
into a vault of spring seeds,
perfect and unbroken.
The goddess of night
protects these treasures,
and I, stranger to the beautiful,
find her among her acolytes,
in love once more
with moonless
winter sleeping.
Reading of “Stranger to the Beautiful” with music by Bob Dylan.
Don, at first, I thought you had the idea for the poem while stumbling home with some lawyer companions after a night of hard drinking. May the hangover of 2024 pass and may 2025 be glorious.
Very nice, Don!
As Pele brings these eruptions to the fore and I settle into the ash ,more than can be shoveled under.New seedlings appear in what has resurrected and creation again has Her way into the multi splendered world that is ours to tend.
Happy New Year, Don. Hope 2025 treats you well.
Don — Beautiful poem! Thank you. Very appropriate for these long Wisconsin nights & gray winter days. Florida beckons! 😊
Don’t you worry about what Figel says re stumbling home after a night of hard drinking. Jay & I (your lawyers) will protect you. Mike
This one has a beautiful tone and lilt..
Think you might enjoy Mary Renault novel, “The king must die.” Gives illuminating clarity in a proto-Greek/Cretan setting to the underlying
nature of goddess worship, ancient and modern and human sacrifice. If you relate to her work you may also enjoy her “Last of the Wine.” Good reads before the fire in an overcast northwest rainy winter.
If Now, after decades of starless winters encircling, my vault of Spring Seeds still remains unbroken somehow (hence, “perfect” enough) — Then likely, the Goddess of night-time Unknowns is Herself no stranger to Life’s beautiful outworkings, yet to be seen by me. What a treasure it is to be consummately protected, and to Know for certain that such is so!
This is a beauty, Don – I have to share it with some friends!
Yes, that deep suspension of being in love with moonless winter sleeping…
I love tumbling into the deep with you, Don! Thank you for inviting us into this source point, and this moment in time. Blessing in this New Year!
Gorgeous, Don! I especially like the feeling of tumbling down into a magical vault which your poem engenders in me. Thank you!
Embracing the moist darkness of the new year’s night does indeed bring a beautiful comfort when the searching and shoveling is done. Thanks, Don. This one is special among the many wonders of your words.