“And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us – listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.”
― Susan Cooper ( children’s author and first woman to edit oxford university’s paper)
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image credit:portlandmaine.com
I didn't have my glasses on.... 
this is such beautiful words and incredible image!
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thank you –
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I love this ,Beth! I’m a big fan of Susan Cooper, too. I’m going to use this poem with my class tomorrow, as we talk about New Year’s traditions. Thanks!!!
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she is such an interesting person, and i’m so you’re going to pass her poem along to your class. )
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Two separate old friends of mine just posted the poem (which I’ve never seen before) on FB.
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wow, you were really meant to see this –
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On this very sad day after in NYC, I thank you for this lovely post.
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i am sorry about what happened and happy this offers a glimmer of light on a dark day
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Happy Winter Solstice to you. Peace.
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and to you –
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beautiful!
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thanks, roy )
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Happy Winter Solstice. This poem is superb! ❤
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i loved it too, thanks )
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very nice Beth. Beautiful poem and beautiful illustration. i wondered how evergreens got associated with Christmas and now i know. Happy Solstice!
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glad you enjoyed it and learned something in the process, paul –
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O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
I know that’s another song for another holiday, but the spirit of the renewed cycle of light and life brought to me by your marvelously placed Winter Solstice poem moved me to sing out that line, Beth. Thanks for my Dec. 21, 2014, moment my friend.
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ya, mark. i’m glad it inspired you, and what a voice you have )
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Beautiful. Thank you.
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you are very welcome –
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Beautiful words… 🙂
My dear fathers father always said “Get married this day, because it gives you the longest wedding night” – 😀
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thank you – and that is a fantastic line from your father )
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Let the Saturnalia begin. The Romans certainly knew how to celebrate this time of the year. 😉
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absolutely )
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This was absolutely gorgeous in art illustration and writing. I had not heard this before, which made my evening that I finally got to read this, very special. Sorry to have fallen behind, but lovely way to catch up, Beth!
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No worries, no hurries. Glad you liked it )
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What can I say, Kiddo, that everyone before me didn’t already say, except “DITTO” to all of the above!!!! 🙂
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thank you, lucie )
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