tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22059454534413802792024-02-20T07:34:16.098+00:00A Blog of One's Own~ A Writer on Writing, the World, Random Reflections & Rants ~Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-53503154946704988362016-12-24T10:30:00.000+00:002016-12-24T10:30:19.819+00:00Advent Calendar Day 28: Haphazard by Starlight<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><img alt="Image result for nativity scene" class="irc_mi i_ayp_8_vbdQ-pQOPx8XEepE" height="179" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_GqloUYq2Zs/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-top: 29px;" width="320" /> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>BC:AD - U.A. Fanthorpe </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This was the moment when Before<br />
Turned into After, and the future's<br />
Uninvented timekeepers presented arms.</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
This was the moment when nothing<br />
Happened. Only dull peace<br />
Sprawled boringly over the earth.</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
This was the moment when even energetic Romans<br />
Could find nothing better to do<br />
Than counting heads in remote provinces.</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
And this was the moment<br />
When a few farm workers and three<br />
Members of an obscure Persian sect<br />
Walked haphazard by starlight straight<br />
Into the kingdom of heaven.</span>Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-67484940457210871482016-12-23T21:45:00.004+00:002016-12-23T21:45:47.716+00:00Advent Calendar Day 27: Love & Light<br />
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<br />Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-47648629852855520582016-12-22T13:00:00.000+00:002016-12-23T21:47:50.691+00:00Advent Calendar Day 26: Journey of the Magi<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for journey of the magi -" class="irc_mi ik7v1i9CezXc-pQOPx8XEepE" src="http://www.theyoungfamilyfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/camels3wisemen.jpg" height="159" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Journey of the Magi - TS Eliot</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> A cold coming we had of it,<br />
Just the worst time of the year<br />
For a journey, and such a long journey:<br />
The ways deep and the weather sharp,<br />
The very dead of winter.'<br />
And the camels galled, sorefooted, refractory,<br />
Lying down in the melting snow.<br />
There were times we regretted<br />
The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces,<br />
And the silken girls bringing sherbet.<br />
Then the camel men cursing and grumbling<br />
and running away, and wanting their liquor and women,<br />
And the night-fires going out, and the lack of shelters,<br />
And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly<br />
And the villages dirty and charging high prices:<br />
A hard time we had of it.<br />
At the end we preferred to travel all night,<br />
Sleeping in snatches,<br />
With the voices singing in our ears, saying<br />
That this was all folly.</span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley,<br />
Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation;<br />
With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness,<br />
And three trees on the low sky,<br />
And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow.<br />
Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel,<br />
Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver,<br />
And feet kicking the empty wine-skins.<br />
But there was no information, and so we continued<br />
And arriving at evening, not a moment too soon<br />
Finding the place; it was (you might say) satisfactory.</span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
All this was a long time ago, I remember,<br />
And I would do it again, but set down<br />
This set down<br />
This: were we led all that way for<br />
Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly<br />
We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death,<br />
But had thought they were different; this Birth was<br />
Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.<br />
We returned to our places, these Kingdoms,<br />
But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation,<br />
With an alien people clutching their gods.<br />
I should be glad of another death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="author_copyright"></span>Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-17007942072245937732016-12-21T10:00:00.000+00:002016-12-21T10:00:00.165+00:00Advent Calendar Day 25: Winter Solstice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7s4WgsUWQsxzjie82QByrgj0qR0qw4zKN5SnXu3GvWM01m1Oal8tvcgqx4TYiukV7Bauj5ciJ3wy5aDBl5MfKTOu2KdOl4j0sBaNmFMBOVxdYZpRdf9zq3eVZuaj1U4pjTLtm58BPM7VY/s1600/winter-solstice-longest-night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7s4WgsUWQsxzjie82QByrgj0qR0qw4zKN5SnXu3GvWM01m1Oal8tvcgqx4TYiukV7Bauj5ciJ3wy5aDBl5MfKTOu2KdOl4j0sBaNmFMBOVxdYZpRdf9zq3eVZuaj1U4pjTLtm58BPM7VY/s1600/winter-solstice-longest-night.jpg" /></a></div>
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<img alt="Image result for i heard a bird sing in the depths of december" class="irc_mi iVcJwrk_gMu4-pQOPx8XEepE" height="230" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/a9/93/81/a9938148c554fcdf3395ee03111ce7f2.jpg" style="margin-top: 82px;" width="236" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Winter Solstice ~ the day the light comes back. </span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">December 21 - Ted Kooser</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Perfectly still this solstice morning, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">in bone-cracking cold. Nothing moving,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">or so one might think, but as I walk the road,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">the wind held in the heart of every tree</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">flows to the end of each twig and forms a bud. </span></span><br />
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Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-3802043433711468102016-12-20T12:30:00.000+00:002016-12-20T23:25:48.430+00:00Advent Calendar Day 24: Expect Miracles<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><img alt="Related image" class="irc_mi iDLNl55AuEU0-pQOPx8XEepE" height="236" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/40/5f/c5/405fc5590f8ca0e12d68509ca13a8243.jpg" style="margin-top: 79px;" width="236" /></div>
<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Not the Millennium - UA Fanthorpe </b> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Wise Men are busy being computer literate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There should be a law against confusing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Religion with mathematics.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There was a baby. Born where?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And when? The sources mention</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Massacres, prophecies, stars;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">They tell a good story, but they don’t agree.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So we celebrate at the wrong midnight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Does it matter? Only (dull) science expects</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">An accurate audit. The economy of heaven</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Looks for fiestas and fireworks every day,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Every day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Be realistic, says heaven:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Expect a miracle.</span>Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-59617008343516015992016-12-19T20:30:00.000+00:002016-12-20T23:17:12.497+00:00Advent Calendar Day 23: Christmas Cards<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Related image" class="irc_mi iN2xlIRke72k-pQOPx8XEepE" height="200" src="https://www.charitycardshop.com/images/products/cbec290c3ec26a149aef644cdc025ffb.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"<i>The custom (giving Christmas cards) is a most striking one - so long as we have sufficient imagination to remember vividly that we are all in the same boat - I mean, on the same planet, and clinging desperately to the flying ball, and dependent for daily happiness on one another's good will! A Christmas card sent by one human being to another human being is more than a piece of coloured stationary sent by one log of wood to another log of wood: it is an inspiring and reassuring message of high value." </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>~ from Arnold Bennett 'The Feast of St Friend'</i></span></span></div>
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<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Christmas Mail - Ted Kooser </b><br />
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</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
Cards in each mailbox, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
angel, manger, star and lamb, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
as the rural carrier, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
driving the snowy roads, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
hears from her bundles </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
the plaintive bleating of sheep, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
the shuffle of sandals, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
the clopping of camels. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
At stop after stop, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
she opens the little tin door </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
and places deep in the shadows </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
the shepherds and wise men, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
the donkeys lank and weary, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
the cow who chews and muses. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
And from her Styrofoam cup, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
white as a star and perched </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
on the dashboard, leading her </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
ever into the distance, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
there is a hint of hazelnut, </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
and then a touch of myrrh.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Christmas Envelopes - UA Fanthorpe</b></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Monks are at it
again, quaffing, carousing;<br />
And stage-coaches, cantering straight out of Merrie England,<br />
In a flurry of whips and fetlocks, sacks and Santas.<br />
</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Raphael has been
roped in, and Botticelli;<br />
Experts predict a vintage year for Virgins.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
From the
theologically challenged, Richmond Bridge,<br />
Giverny, a lugger by moonlight, doves. Ours</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
Costs less than
these in money, more in time;<br />
Like them, is hopelessly irrelevant<br />
But brings, like them, the essential message<br />
<br />
<i>love.</i></span></span><br />
<br />Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-91400819893694492702016-12-18T22:00:00.000+00:002016-12-18T23:51:58.365+00:00Advent Calendar Day 22: The Most Tremendous Tale<div class="detail-bd">
<div class="user-content">
<div class="user-content-text">
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<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i> </i></b></span><img alt="Related image" class="irc_mut i_Y2buwdeBgQ-HwpH6ZlgJaI" height="212" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRuD02pGlAfRRqyyV0mQrnZS7I_pn6AMBNwnrQbY4tM1QtLjkxY" style="margin-top: 31px;" width="320" /></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>from</i> Christmas - John Betjeman</b></span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And is it true? and is it true?<br />
The most tremendous tale of all,<br />
Seen in a stained-glass window's hue,<br />
A Baby in an ox's stall?<br />
The Maker of the stars and sea<br />
Become a Child on earth for me?<br />
<br />
And is it true? For if it is,<br />
No loving fingers tying strings<br />
Around those tissued fripperies,<br />
The sweet and silly Christmas things,<br />
Bath salts and inexpensive scent<br />
And hideous tie so kindly meant.<br />
<br />
No love that in a family dwells,<br />
No carolling in frosty air,<br />
Nor all the steeple-shaking bells<br />
Can with this single Truth compare -<br />
That God was Man in Palestine<br />
And lives to-day in Bread and Wine.</span></span></div>
<div class="poem" data-view="ContentView">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-36387841379411832222016-12-17T18:00:00.000+00:002016-12-20T00:29:16.529+00:00Advent Calendar Day 21: The Spirit of Santa<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for yes virginia there is a santa claus" class="irc_mi i5LjIIp_DqEk-pQOPx8XEepE" src="http://joybrugh.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/yes-Virginia.png" height="134" style="margin-top: 72px;" width="320" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This famous 1897 reply to an 8 year old girl from the <i>New York Sun</i> is one of the most famous editorials of all time, as well as a powerful testament to the the real magic and spirit of Christmas:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<img alt="Image result for yes virginia there is a santa claus" class="irc_mi i5LjIIp_DqEk-pQOPx8XEepE" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XKQEHhZbd7zBmT5W1WpY8FneL2Hd638PmwyUMSQTZQB2bk3WoH0GA-7Q7sofvm2LOkIMlxjpSKSFU_JacLS1IGsJSMY2bDON2A_daiT_n5aT4bohCQPJGzx6hnhAY3ri0ZKAmpMf6pqF/s640/YesVirginia.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="402" /></div>
Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-16093611339470372992016-12-16T23:42:00.000+00:002016-12-18T23:43:08.904+00:00Advent Calenar Day 20: The Coming of Light<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for winter light" class="irc_mi ijG_VcqUxwfE-pQOPx8XEepE" height="200" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/f9/aa/6e/f9aa6ec13014a2585a733d9ea6bf2ecc.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Coming of Light - Mark Strand</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Even this late it happens:<br />the coming of love, the coming of light. <br />You wake and the candles are lit as if by themselves, <br />stars gather, dreams pour into your pillows, <br />sending up warm bouquets of air.<br />Even this late the bones of the body shine <br />and tomorrow's dust flares into breath. </span><br />
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Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-14718061035094363082016-12-15T23:22:00.000+00:002016-12-18T23:27:21.580+00:00Advent Calendar Day 19: Scrooged<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The classic Christmas story from Dickens never gets old. </span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I
have not profited, I dare say,' returned the nephew. 'Christmas among
the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it
has come round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and
origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that—as a good
time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know
of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one
consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people
below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and
not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore,
uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I
believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the
people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and
questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up
to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He
had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much
happiness."</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></i></div>
Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-92150183656897225102016-12-14T22:30:00.001+00:002016-12-14T22:30:04.132+00:00Advent Calendar Day 18: Various Portents<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><img alt="Image result for christmas star lights" class="irc_mi iPQfhGZM4QRo-pQOPx8XEepE" height="198" src="http://cdnstatic.visualizeus.com/thumbs/76/0f/light-760fede1e4ae7ca60b8755a16a59e47e_h.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love the variety of the Christmas season - the people, the places, the greetings, the moments. The truly magical feeling that anything could happen. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Various Portents - Alice Oswald </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Various stars. Various kings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Various sunsets, signs, cursory insights.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Many minute attentions, many knowledgeable watchers,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Much cold, much overbearing darkness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Various long midwinter Glooms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Various Solitary and Terrible Stars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Many Frosty Nights, many previously Unseen Sky-flowers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Many people setting out (some of them kings) all clutching at stars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">More than one North Star, more than one South Star. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Several billion elliptical galaxies, bubble nebulae, binary systems, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Various dust lanes, various routes through varying thicknesses of Dark, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Many tunnels into deep space, minds going back and forth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Many visions, many digitally enhanced heavens,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> All kinds of glistenings being gathered into telescopes: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Fireworks, gasworks, white-streaked works of Dusk, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Works of wonder and/or water, snowflakes, stars of frost . . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Various dazed astronomers dilating their eyes,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Various astronauts setting out into laughterless earthlessness,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Various 5,000-year-old moon maps,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Various blindmen feeling across the heavens in braille.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Various gods making beautiful works in bronze, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Brooches, crowns, triangles, cups and chains, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And all sorts of drystone stars put together without mortar. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Many Wisemen remarking the irregular weather.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Many exile energies, many low-voiced followers,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Watches of wisp of various glowing spindles,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Soothsayers, hunters in the High Country of the Zodiac,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Seafarers tossing, tied to a star . . . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Various people coming home (some of them kings). Various headlights. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Two or three children standing or sitting on the low wall. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Various winds, the Sea Wind, the sound-laden Winds of Evening </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Blowing the stars towards them, bringing snow.</span></div>
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Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-12384407160714314342016-12-13T20:04:00.001+00:002016-12-13T20:04:43.072+00:00Advent Calendar Day 17: What If<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for snow" class="irc_mut iPt_IfcKjskM-HwpH6ZlgJaI" height="179" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" 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<br />Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-63964634595646154422016-12-12T19:45:00.000+00:002016-12-13T19:45:56.524+00:00Advent Calendar Day 16: <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><img alt="Image result for december moon" class="irc_mi iAVtT2uCr6AI-pQOPx8XEepE" height="133" src="http://milwaukeerising.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/December-Moon.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The lovely December 'Cold Moon' is upon us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>December Moon - May Sarton</b></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Before going to bed<br />
After a fall of snow<br />
I look out on the field<br />
Shining there in the moonlight<br />
So calm, untouched and white<br />
Snow silence fills my head<br />
After I leave the window.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hours later near dawn<br />
When I look down again<br />
The whole landscape has changed<br />
The perfect surface gone<br />
Criss-crossed and written on<br />
Where the wild creatures ranged<br />
While the moon rose and shone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Why did my dog not bark?<br />
Why did I hear no sound<br />
There on the snow-locked ground<br />
In the tumultuous dark?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">How much can come, how much can go<br />
When the December moon is bright,<br />
What worlds of play we’ll never know<br />
Sleeping away the cold white night<br />
After a fall of snow.</span><br />
Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-82085511577786039932016-12-11T15:30:00.000+00:002016-12-11T21:01:02.553+00:00Advent Calendar Day 15: Belief<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for quote on belief from miracle on 34th street" class="irc_mi iP_jDorzSdb8-pQOPx8XEepE" height="237" src="http://i1.lisimg.com/69721/170full.jpg" style="margin-top: 78px;" width="170" /></div>
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<img alt="Image result for quote on belief from miracle on 34th street" class="irc_mi iP_jDorzSdb8-pQOPx8XEepE" height="314" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/5d/43/19/5d4319aab76a1c9e15f09e4d997aa5c7.jpg" style="margin-top: 40px;" width="236" /></div>
Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-61436645549536545682016-12-10T21:21:00.006+00:002016-12-10T21:21:51.931+00:00Advent Calendar Day 14: New Traditions<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for father and daughter decorating christmas tree" class="irc_mi ii7FLSeLjjJE-pQOPx8XEepE" height="112" src="http://il9.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/11587796/thumb/1.jpg" style="margin-top: 29px;" width="200" /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Grief is a room without doors – but somehow, with its tinsel and
clichés, Christmas finds a way in. In the absence of a loved one, all
the pageantry, all the carols and parties and bright bustling pubs, are
an unbearable silence. For many, the season of goodwill and joy is also
the season of loneliness and despair, during which nothing grows except
the longing for what can never be..." </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~ Simon Van Booy</span></i></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One December, a few years ago, I came across this very moving article <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/19/christmas-love-loss-simon-van-booy">- New Traditons</a> from writer Simon Van Booy. The next day I rushed out, in a snow-dusted cityscape, to buy any book of his I could get my hands on. Ever since, I love to read his collection of stories <i>'The Secret Lives of People in Love</i>' at this time of year. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">His writing is simply, exquisite.</span> </span></div>
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<br />Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-19097512643772458992016-12-09T21:23:00.000+00:002016-12-10T21:24:15.775+00:00Advent Calendar Day 13: Northern Sky <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">All the sparkly magic of the season captured in melody: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">'Northern Sky' ~ Nick Drake</span></div>
Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-48131315676361004912016-12-08T22:34:00.002+00:002016-12-08T22:34:59.093+00:00Advent Calendar Day 12: Miles To Go<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> </b></span><img alt="Image result for snowy woods" class="irc_mi iyp75W7oHgsc-pQOPx8XEepE" height="220" src="http://www.a-w-i-p.com/media/blogs/poetry/Poetry3/Woods_on_a_Snowy_Evening_3_35_f.jpg" style="margin-top: 76px;" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening - Robert Frost</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Whose woods these are I think I know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">His house is in the village though; </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He will not see me stopping here </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To watch his woods fill up with snow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My little horse must think it queer </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To stop without a farmhouse near </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Between the woods and frozen lake </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The darkest evening of the year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He gives his harness bells a shake </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To ask if there is some mistake. </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The only other sound’s the sweep </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Of easy wind and downy flake. </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The woods are lovely, dark and deep, </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But I have promises to keep, </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And miles to go before I sleep, </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And miles to go before I sleep.</span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-38638449994080784332016-12-07T09:30:00.000+00:002016-12-07T09:30:05.536+00:00Advent Calender Day 11: Lines for Winter<div class="detail-bd">
<div class="user-content">
<div class="user-content-text">
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<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><img alt="Image result for person walking in snow with a coloured umbrella" class="irc_mi idYTdm_BKpCI-pQOPx8XEepE" height="200" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/4b/95/8d/4b958d8edaceb9d0e3b6fe587f9acd2c.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="128" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There are certain go-to winter poets for me - and one of the main ones is Mark Strand. His </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">poems are shot through with a kind of crystal-clear precision and sparkling beauty. </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lines for Winter - Mark Strand </span></b></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></b></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Tell yourself </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">as it gets cold and gray falls from the air </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">that you will go on </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">walking, hearing </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the same tune no matter where </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">you find yourself— </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">inside the dome of dark </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">or under the cracking white </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">of the moon's gaze in a valley of snow. </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Tonight as it gets cold </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">tell yourself </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">what you know which is nothing </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">but the tune your bones play </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">as you keep going. And you will be able </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">for once to lie down under the small fire </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">of winter stars. </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And if it happens that you cannot </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">go on or turn back </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and you find yourself </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">where you will be at the end, </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">tell yourself </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">in that final flowing of cold through your limbs </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">that you love what you are.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-29636021542564027152016-12-06T22:55:00.007+00:002016-12-06T22:55:57.153+00:00Advent Calendar Day 10: Light<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> </b></span><img alt="Related image" class="irc_mi iLHPQLAuZ2pk-pQOPx8XEepE" height="187" src="http://izhlife.ru/uploads/posts/newsimg/imgs-201059.jpg" style="margin-top: 41px;" width="320" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> </b><i>'where the darkness gives way to light...'</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Winter is the season of darkness but isn't Advent all about harvesting light? In any and every way. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love this poem, by the way. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>In Winter's House - Jane Draycott </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In winter's house there's a room<br />that's pale and still as mist in a field<br />while outside in the street every gate's shut firm,<br />every face as cold as steel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In winter's house there's a bed<br />that is spread with frost and feathers, that gleams<br />in the half-light like rain in a disused yard<br />or a pearl in a choked-up stream.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In winter's house there's a child<br />asleep in a dream of light that grows out<br />of the dark, a flame you can hold in your hand<br />like a flower or a torch on the street. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In winter's house there's a tale<br />that's told of a great chandelier in a garden,<br />of fire that catches and travels for miles,<br />of all gates and windows wide open.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><em>In winter's house there's a flame</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><em>being dreamt by a child in the night,</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><em>in the small quiet house at the turn in the lane</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<em>where the darkness gives way to light.</em></span><br />
<br />
Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-79887068900273917192016-12-05T12:00:00.000+00:002016-12-06T18:32:39.411+00:00Advent Calendar Day 9: Trees in Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRt9gXmM1c2C6AprgLLEdQHDTre2qh34ynTFnJRObsqioXmzSqHJ91EoPIbivxKIeVrUyY269ZZFN6fHbVVFyHx77_wcpZDkGsIrSqe0EBTUtVdLcuKHPupGUlj6KvzL6cp2H-r310HmnR/s1600/December+2015+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRt9gXmM1c2C6AprgLLEdQHDTre2qh34ynTFnJRObsqioXmzSqHJ91EoPIbivxKIeVrUyY269ZZFN6fHbVVFyHx77_wcpZDkGsIrSqe0EBTUtVdLcuKHPupGUlj6KvzL6cp2H-r310HmnR/s200/December+2015+024.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1517785302"></span><span id="goog_1517785303"></span><span id="goog_1517785304"></span><span id="goog_1517785305"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"<i>Bare branches in winter are a form of writing..</i>." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~ Billy Collins 'Winter Syntax' </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Watch as the winter trees display their, as Alice Oswald calls them, 'wishbone' selves. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Winter Trees - William Carlos Williams</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">All the complicated details </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">of the attiring and </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the disattiring are completed! </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A liquid moon </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">moves gently among </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the long branches. </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thus having prepared their buds </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">against a sure winter </span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the wise trees </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">stand sleeping in the cold. </span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<br />Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-9266270642802777782016-12-04T15:17:00.006+00:002016-12-04T15:17:56.498+00:00Advent Calendar Day 8: Annunciation<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for famous painting of the annunciation" class="irc_mi itYz_eVEm2m4-pQOPx8XEepE" height="224" src="http://www.jesus-story.net/images/A_Annunciation_John_William_Waterhouse_1914.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="320" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">'The Annunciation' by John William Waterhouse, 1914</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Annunciation - Denise Levertov
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We know the scene:
the room, variously furnished, <br />
almost always a lectern, a book; always<br />
the tall lily.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Arrived on solemn grandeur of great wings,<br />
the angelic ambassador, standing or hovering,<br />
whom she acknowledges, a guest.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But we are told of
meek obedience. No one mentions<br />
courage.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
The
engendering Spirit<br />
did not enter her without consent.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
God waited.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She was free<br />
to accept or to refuse, choice<br />
integral to humanness.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Aren’t there
annunciations<br />
of one sort or another<br />
in most lives?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Some unwillingly<br />
undertake great destinies,<br />
enact them in sullen pride,<br />
uncomprehending.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">More
often<br />
those moments<br />
when roads of light and storm<br />
open from darkness in a man or woman,<br />
are turned away from</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">in dread, in a wave
of weakness, in despair<br />
and with relief.<br />
Ordinary lives continue.<br />
God does not smite them.<br />
But the gates close, the pathway vanishes.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She had been a child
who played, ate, slept<br />
like any other child–but unlike others,<br />
wept only for pity, laughed<br />
in joy not triumph.<br />
Compassion and intelligence<br />
fused in her, indivisible.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Called to a destiny
more momentous<br />
than any in all of Time,<br />
she did not quail,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
only asked</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">a simple, ‘How can
this be?’<br />
and gravely, courteously,<br />
took to heart the angel’s reply,<br />
the astounding ministry she was offered:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">to bear in her womb<br />
Infinite weight and lightness; to carry<br />
in hidden, finite inwardness,<br />
nine months of Eternity; to contain<br />
in slender vase of being,<br />
the sum of power–<br />
in narrow flesh,<br />
the sum of light.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Then bring to birth,<br />
push out into air, a Man-child<br />
needing, like any other,<br />
milk and love–</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
but who was God. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This was the moment
no one speaks of,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">when she could still
refuse.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A breath unbreathed,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Spirit,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
suspended,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
waiting.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She did not cry, ‘I
cannot. I am not worthy,’</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Nor, ‘I have not the
strength.’</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">She did not submit
with gritted teeth,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
raging, coerced.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bravest of all
humans,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
consent illumined her.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The room filled with
its light,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the lily glowed in
it,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
and the iridescent wings.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Consent,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
courage unparalleled,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
opened her utterly.</span><br />
Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-35605465929639283712016-12-03T15:00:00.000+00:002016-12-04T15:09:46.196+00:00Advent Calendar Day 7: Snowflakes<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Related image" class="irc_mi ijenVGR87oUs-pQOPx8XEepE" height="200" src="http://www.freedawn.co.uk/scientia/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/snowflake-561x590.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="190" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Out of the bosom of the Air, </span></i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken, </span></i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Over the woodlands brown and bare, </span></i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Over the harvest-fields forsaken, </span></i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Silent, and soft, and slow </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Descends the snow." </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h1 class="quoteText">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"They say that every snowflake is different. If
that were true, how could the world go on? How could we ever get up off
our knees? How could we ever recover from the wonder of it?"</span></span></i></span></h1>
<h1 class="quoteText">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">~ Jeanette Winterson</span></span></span></i></h1>
<h1 class="quoteText">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span itemprop="articleBody">"Under the microscope, I found that
snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this
beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others." </span></span></span></span></i></h1>
<h1 class="quoteText">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span itemprop="articleBody">~ Wilson Bentley</span> </span></span></span></i></h1>
<h1 class="quoteText">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></i></h1>
<h1 class="quoteText" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Aren't snowflakes truly things of wonder? Check out this <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/03/alexey-kljatov_n_4373888.html">slideshow</a></span></span></span></h1>
<h1 class="quoteText" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></i></h1>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-79584864159397037202016-12-02T09:03:00.000+00:002016-12-02T09:03:06.473+00:00Literary Advent Calenar Day 6: Hello Winter<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><img alt="Image result for winter" class="irc_mut izt_CP2IcU64-HwpH6ZlgJaI" height="150" 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" 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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Winter is the season of solitude, the season of wisdom and inner growth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Relearning Winter - Mark Svenfold</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hello Winter, hello flanneled<br />
blanket of clouds, clouds<br />
fueled by more clouds, hello again.</span>
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Hello afternoons, <br />
off to the west, that silver<br />
of sunset, rust-colored<br />
and gone too soon.</span></div>
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And night (I admit to a short memory)<br />
you climb back in with chilly fingers<br />
and clocks, and there is no refusal:<br />
ice cracks the water main, the garden hose<br />
stiffens, the bladed leaves of the rhododendron<br />
shine in the fog of a huge moon.</span></div>
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And rain, street lacquer,<br />
oily puddles and spinning rubber,<br />
mist of angels on the head of a pin,<br />
hello,</span></div>
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and snow, upside-down cake of clouds,<br />
white, freon scent, you build<br />
even as you empty the world of texture—<br />
hello to this new relief,<br />
this new solitude now upon us,<br />
upon which we feed.</span></div>
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</span><br />Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-35783875867815460602016-12-01T09:30:00.000+00:002016-12-01T09:30:13.732+00:00Literary Advent Calendar Day 5: December<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for hello december" class="irc_mi i5a0oVNfpf_o-pQOPx8XEepE" src="http://data.whicdn.com/images/78133605/original.jpg" height="150" style="margin-top: 27px;" width="200" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">'<b>December' - Norah Jones</b></span><br />
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<br />Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2205945453441380279.post-21251893041846804882016-11-30T11:02:00.000+00:002016-11-30T11:02:00.160+00:00Literary Advent Calendar Day 4: Trees in Winter<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKFW4Mn2jDdZKWk6u0fQVpXj3fCrmezGWSigcpEoRbqW2CXDOyKRk7wc3NR3-H7IQEDEw9oQ1X6bQXZkfFqhKD7ISNX8gG5ixJpM4p85gPmcJFLzRZK-7eh7Al8rdR-IUEUFvZllW915h/s1600/tree+roots.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKFW4Mn2jDdZKWk6u0fQVpXj3fCrmezGWSigcpEoRbqW2CXDOyKRk7wc3NR3-H7IQEDEw9oQ1X6bQXZkfFqhKD7ISNX8gG5ixJpM4p85gPmcJFLzRZK-7eh7Al8rdR-IUEUFvZllW915h/s320/tree+roots.jpeg" width="216" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Art by Erika Pochybova-Johnson </span></div>
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"<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots down there are riotous." </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">~ Rumi</span></i></div>
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Siobhánhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11146329432858420431noreply@blogger.com0