Saturday, December 21, 2013

The Shortest Day


The days are short
The sun a spark
Hung thin between
The dark and dark. 

John Updike, "January," A Child’s Calendar, 1965










I'm glad today is short, for I've worked very hard and I'm tired. At day's end I watched the sun finish its retreat into winter, and then set. I sighed. Tomorrow's sun will begin retracing its path, right, across the lake -- to its summer's end rest stop.

For today, I say, rest sun. You have done well.

18 comments:

  1. How I love Updike! How gorgeous these pictures. Happy solstice.

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  2. I feel like the only person on the planet who loves Winter best of all the seasons, and evening best of all the times of day. Perhaps that seems gloomy, but to me those are times of great peace. I love the quiet. The dusk. The rest, as you say, after a long day.

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  3. Today's where I start counting the added minutes of light every day...working back towards the months of gardening and kayaking and bare feet.

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  4. Lovely to have the sun, it has been a week I think here. Getting more snow to play in, I am up waiting for light so I can get out and free my vehicles from at least 6 inches of new snow so far. Watching for the papergirl to offer some coffee to warm her. Have a great holiday, we will have that white Xmas.

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  5. What an absolutely gorgeous set of photos. Thanks...:)

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  6. I love everything about this post! The poem at the top says it all about this time of year. Gorgeous photos, and gorgeous words. I hope the holidays are happy for you, and filled with light this year.

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  7. And here I am thinking it's the longest day...of darkness. I celebrate winter solstice because it means we're headed back toward more light each and every day.
    I adore winter because it means rest but I love light because it means sight...such a dichotomy!

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  8. What a perfectly beautiful solstice sky. :)

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  9. Wonderful photos! They are a reminder that even in the darkest part of the year there is light and beauty somewhere.

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  10. I sense that you are another person who truly appreciates the sun. Like you, I am willing to see less of it as long as it appears often to do more of its job.

    I know there are many who live in parts of the country and world where clouds and/or darkness subtract from the warmth and glow of the sun often, but I'm glad that I do not. I need it; a lot.

    Taking a blogging break before doing the task of gift wrapping. *sigh*

    Merry Christmas!

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  11. Thanks for the colorful share. I could use a lake view now--especially not one with snowy white surrounding it.

    I hope you and your family had a nice Christmas.

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  12. What beautifil photos!
    Thanks for stopping by my blog Coastal Style.
    Happy New Year - I hope all your wishes come true in 2014!
    x
    Melissah

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  13. Glad the shortest day has passed because soon we will round the corner and some decent weather may come which means I can come out of hibernation.
    Happy New Year ~ eddie

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  14. May you find a warm and cozy place to rest as the days lengthen.

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