Playful

One star

waits 

to leap frog

Sister Moon

or perhaps

jump into

her half-moon

saucer

and sled

across

the dawn horizon

Cold lights

Two stars

tag behind

Sister Moon

the last

of midnight's 

cold lights

to wink

at her smiling

descent

Hour 'til sunrise

New day
new year
like so many 
beginnings
undetectable
under a layer
of dirty frost
an hour from dawn
so we're stumbling
sleepy
in the dark
never really ready
for change
but change
is always waiting
for us

Blue

The wind blows bitter

but also

blows blue

bringing a breath

of bright

to a white

afternoon

Light

Four days
after the solstice
dark remains deep
even as
the world is stirring
for day
showers rushing
doors slamming
cars humming
voices murmuring
with anxious plans
The light is coming
Pause
Feel it
among us


John 1:1-5, 14

Shepherd

No account proclaims
Christ

born in the dark

Shepherds

heard songs

under 

a starry sky

but imagine

if

they found

the swaddled babe

not in night

but

as the dawn

reached out

for blazing day

Luke 2:1-7

Child

Photo: Laura Aase

Our hearts
leap
within us
or perhaps
turn
inside out
and open
the better
to receive
and reflect
love

Luke 1:39-45