The winter solstice is upon us now –
today we have the shortest span of light.
We mark the start of winter, and allow
ourselves provisions to endure the night.
Tomorrow brings us longer light, and then
succeeding days will lengthen daytime’s rule.
The sun is coming back to us again –
the turnaround occurs with every yule.

And maybe it’s the endless quarantine,
but I’m more thoughtful this year than before.
It strikes me now as odd that we all mean
by “winter” the return of sunlight, more
than boding cold and early darkening.
We bottom out today, and move toward spring.