Happy Poetry Friday and Happy Winter Solstice
I have a menagerie of treasures to share today. I’ve been star gazing for about the last week, late at night and have taken in an abundance of stars via my window. I’m starting with a winter solstice poem to welcome this new season…
WINTER SOLSTICE
Deep into the dark nights of December
lies our longest night and our shortest day,
a doldrum day too short to remember
but night worthy of star gazing away.
As weather forecasts may lead one awry,
you might start star-watching earlier on.
Gaze up into that cool cobalt blue sky
some clear wintery night you come upon.
Magical stars will leave you mesmerized–
Capture your embrace in a timeless gaze–
Fueling your senses, leaving you surprised,
totally transfixed, in a star struck haze.
When you’ve stair-stepped down from the boundless sky,
Soul-filled with celestial satisfies…
remember your winter solstice ally,
guard Mother Nature’s treasures for all eyes.
© 2018 Michelle Kogan
Next I’m sharing Matt Forrest Esenwine’s wonderful book, FLASHLIGHT NIGHT, that I won from his website recently. His book’s about a magical adventure three children take in the evening via a “flashlight.” The story Matt wove and the art images by Fred Koehler are a perfect marriage in this picture book. If you haven’t read it I would encourage you to find a copy–it sweeps you up and draws you in throughout their journey–resting you quietly down as the children drift off to sleep.
One of the many sites the three children discover… I really like the contrast and play of light that Fred created when the flashlight illuminates an area.
I love the words here, as they beg us to turn the page and find out where
the door will lead us…
Thanks Matt for writing this mysterious and enchanting “FLASHLIGHT NIGHT” adventure!
I’m also sharing my lovely winter poetry swap poem and gifts that I received from Buffy Silverman. In addition to the poem and gorgeous image, Buffy also sent me this Karner Blue Butterfly which her daughter knitted, and that she found on my website. The Karner Blue in addition to be gorgeous is unfortunately endangered, and for this reason I like to share it so more will become aware of its plight. Thanks for the poem and gifts, Buffy! Sending a Thank you also to Tabatha Yeatts who began and organizes this special holiday poetry swap!
PLEIN AIR POET
Her eyes hone in
on treasures–
feather, burrow, dew
Her pen considers
phrases–
speckled, cozy, cool
Her brushstroke brims
with color–
yellow, umber, blue
Her canvas swirls
with wonder–
poem, painting, jewel
© Buffy Silverman, 2018
Serendipitously, Buffy Silverman is hosting this weeks Poetry Friday Roundup at her Blog, Buffy’s Blog–thanks for hosting Buffy, I’m looking forward to viewing what you are sharing.
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Glad you’ve been star gazing in the dark nights of December! Thanks for these treasures and for sharing my poem, Michelle.
Happy to share your lovely poem Buffy! On my way to check out the night sky soon…
“poem, painting, jewel”, so beautiful for you and from Buffy, Michelle. I do love, too, your “remember your winter solstice ally” & the painting ‘peace’. Happy Solstice!
Thanks Linda–yes Buffy hit it on the spot! Happy Solstice and Merry Christmas to you and your Family, Enjoy!
Wow, so many treasures in this post! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
I could imagine your artwork painted onto a window, Michelle – sans black paint, relying on the inky sky. Loved the line, ‘When you’ve stair-stepped down from the boundless sky,’ – though confess I first read it as ‘star-stepped’… which I think adds to the appeal of stair-stepped, for me. 🙂 And lovely collection from Buffy. (That leaf shape poem, bookmark, too!) Thinking of you across oceans of sky and wishing you a blessed Christmas.
What beautiful poems, Michelle – yours is reflective and thoughtful, Buffy’s is full of imagery and emotion! (On a side note, the Karner Blue is our official state butterfly here in NH) Thank you also for featuring our little book…I’m so glad you enjoyed it enough to share ti with your readers!
Your collection of solstice-treasures is leaving me starry-eyed, Michelle! I am not surprised by y’all’s talents, but I didn’t know that Buffy’s daughter can knit butterflies — how cool is that?!
Without a pattern, Tabatha! Don’t know how she does it.
What a rich post of treasures. Starlight, sunlight and flashlight. Thanks for shining some light with your words and art, Michelle!
Your painting of the night sky is absolutely gorgeous! I love the scale of the big darkness and the word peace. Thank you!
Buffy captured you perfectly in that poem! I wish I could give the gift of of rural darkness to all the urban kids in the world who have no idea what it’s like to look up into pure black and see a sky FILLED with stars, including the Milky Way.
Oh my, such an abundance of wonder here, Michelle! Thank you for sharing all of it. I love your solstice poem and painting. I haven’t heard of the book, but I will track it down. I remember having adventures by flashlight when I was a kid.
And your poetry swap poem is delightful, too–it looks like a lot of fun!
You are a star-gazer and a plein-air poet. Beautiful gifts of the season.
Goodness, the richness of all this! Thank you for taking the time to share!
Beautiful poem, Michelle. These lines caught my attention: a doldrum day too short to remember/
but night worthy of star gazing away.” And that butterfly! I’m a knitter and I’m going to look for that pattern.
Thanks Laura, have fun with the butterfly and maybe display her somewhere so more will become familiar with her plight.
Michelle, Thanks for the Solstice light, the starry painting and your poem. I also love Matt’s Flashlight Night. My copy is waiting for my granddaughter to be a bit older and we can tiptoe to the playhouse and read it by flashlight. Buffy’s poem is perfect for you, and I love the rhythm and the oo sounds. Karner Blues like the pine barrens in Concord, NH, though I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Karner Blue. The city tries to maintain habitat there.