December 13

Every year I begin my written journey, thinking nothing new could possibly be learned through the process of "calendaring" the advent season, yet every year I am surprised. This year Santa Lucia joined the merry band of Yuletide presences which travel through the landscape of our imagination from Samhain to Epiphany:


Santa Lucia
rises very early
Like the midsummer sun
on a dark December morn


White is her garment
as a snow fall on the mountains
Her sash of red ribbon
like the first bright ray of dawn


One for each season
She wears a crown of candles
With one at the center
for the winter sun reborn