Let In The Light
~ John Matthews

Welcome by whatever name or form it comes

Whether you name it he or she

Whether you call it unnameable

Whether it comes with joy or sorrow in hand

Welcome the light in whatever form,

Whether it be the Lord of Life

With stars upon his brow

And treasures in his hands,

Or if the Lady of the World

With all the children at her skirts,

And all the creatures in her train.

Whether you see or do not see

Let in the light.

Let it be part

Of every word,

Of every breath.

Joyfully let in the light

Welcome it in whatever name or form it takes.

Image: Winter Solstice, from Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Ettrick
~Alicia Ann Spottiswoode, Lady John Scott

When we first rade down Ettrick,
Our bridles were ringing, our hearts were dancing,
The waters were singing, the sun was glancing,
An’ blithely our hears rang out thegither,
As we brushed the dew frae the blooming heather,
When we first rade down Ettrick.

When we next rade down Ettrick,
The day was dying, the wild birds calling,
The wind was sighing, the leaves were falling,
An’ silent and weary, but close thegither,
We urged our steeds thro’ the faded heather,
We we next rade down Ettrick.

When I last rade down Ettrick,
The winds were shifting, the storm was waking,
The snow was drifting, my heart was breaking,
For we never again were to ride thegither,
In sun or storm on the mountain heather,
When I last rade down Ettrick.

Ettrick Scotland in Snow. Image from BordersHolidayLets.Co.Uk

I’ve been offline for most of the past ten days. It’s been a difficult time for my family, with two deaths bracketing the end-of-year holidays, and traveling for my grandmother’s funeral.

I’m back in town, and back at my desk, so posting will resume on January 9, 2018.

Thank you for your patience during the hiatus.

My nephew Darin‘s funeral is today. This is a poem we always read at family funerals. Rest in peace, my dear.

Death Is A Door
~ Nancy Byrd Turner

Death is only an old door
Set in a garden wall;
On gentle hinges it gives, at dusk
When the thrushes call.

Along the lintel are green leaves,
Beyond the light lies still;
Very willing and weary feet
Go over that sill.

There is nothing to trouble any heart;
Nothing to hurt at all.
Death is only a quiet door
In an old wall.

from “Evergreen”
~ Julia Hartwig

Stay forever green tree of joyful existence
tree rooted in the sky
and tree drawing its sap from the earth
tree of illusion and tree of dream
…
stay with us and teach us endurance
royal from childhood on
eternally green
and eternally alive
Evergreen