The Last of December’s Sun

The Last of December’s Sun, photo by Jack Baumgartner

The Last of December’s Sun

It was the last of December’s sun

A parting gift of day—an illuminating ray

The fire nestled between the trees

Snow and ice crunching beneath

The snow-covered road winding through the hay

The frozenness of this last day

Ice shimmers and stills—frozen

Juxtaposing the warmth of life

This is what the end has chosen

The sun sets down, the dew crystalizes

The snow flakes and ice shimmers and shakes—frozen

Through thorny bush and purple hue,

Life begins to sleep in front of you

The evergreen bears the weight of snow

And the end tells us all we need to know

At evening’s close—the last of December’s sun

The night has come—the day is done

The wings of birds flutter farewell—

Against the silence and the setting sun

Time and the fields are frozen now

And life sleeps and shifts as it knows how

© January 6, 2014, Robbie Pruitt

This poem is based on a photo blog post by Jack Baumgartner entitled “The Last of December’s Sun” and a song by Jack, track #1, The Oak Leaf, guitar. Jack is a very talented artist, photographer and musician and an amazing woodworker. You can visit Jack’s work at “The School of the Transfer of Energy.”

The Last of December’s Sun, photo by Jack Baumgartner

The Close of Winter

Winter, Photo by Irene Pruitt

Already anticipating the close of winter . . .

It is cold outside . . . frigid. Already there has been snow, frozen hose pipes in the yard, frost on the windshield, visible breaths, reddened ears and noses, hot chocolate, a slower pace, a warmer blanket, a chill up the spine, a shiver in the night. . . Winter has begun to set down upon us in its fullness, and already we begin to look with anticipation for its close.

“Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.” –Psalm 74:17

The Close of Winter

with each day the sun creeps

to a higher noon pose

the long shadows recede

winter comes to a close

© 2010 Irene and Robbie Pruitt

Song of Solomon 2:10-13

“Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.”