Toward the Solstice

The winter solstice is the shortest day of our year

The meger sunlight is fleeting at best

But every following day becomes longer

The snow is not such a burden-

When it twinkles and shines like sapphire-

In the afternoon glow

The cold is just as frigid

And the winds just as biting

But it all seems a little more tolerable

As days stretch

Extra moments of sunshine

Give hope for spring

The trees will live again

Grass will poke through lacquered ice

And a new songbird will rejoice

All this comes after the winter solstice-

The shortest day of the year