Leaving solstice, every minute
more of light is a particle of fire
descended from the heavens.
The shortest day of the year.
Winter depression.
The lowest branch a hand can reach
when it wants to climb.
Winter comes nimble.
Extracts summer from us.
When days burst with borealis.
The shimmer of the life force
on our skin.
Sing songs to the new snow!
Write poems to radiance!
Already, the snow drops
are coming from the ground,
flowers of winter,
hugging chill and cold.
The ballet of the wind
making earth white
with immaculate mountains.