dogtrax

Hidden now in the snow - the story goes, he left the bell as reminder to all who might find it that kindness is a melody we sing along for others

for #mastoprompt

they by one voice fired, one heart of flame ... — Emma Lazarus

Sing then – so let us sing then we will dance again

holding hands and taking time to reach out for another in the Solstice night

take flight, Fears, for where you were now our voices force you to fade, and disappear

and we are here, still here, a motley collection of disparate parts, bound by the heart

Sing then – so let us sing and then we will dance again

Inspired by The Feast Of Light by Emma Lazarus https://poets.org/poem/feast-lights

Prompt via Winter #SolsticePoem Prompts (via Deanna): https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZjzQCxAlSozwsiWI-KBWYmTv6AdFEME4V9AQwrATcnE/present?slide=id.p

Emit the positive energy the people around you need

All of us - threads of tapestry - for the woven to work, we need to believe

for #mastoprompt

Tell yourself this one day’s quiet’s okay - it’s not a warning sign from the edge of solitude warning of something in the midst of bending wrong

Silence your song and remember to tell yourself to listen to the deep breathing of this winter day, the way the air nearly always hums

and when the voices come to break the moment, you’ll be ready to tell yourself: there’s strength in standing still,
even when the world’s tilting on its spin

Inspired by Lines For Winter by Mark Strand https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50977/lines-for-winter

Some day, when trees have shed their leaves And against the morning’s white The shivering birds beneath the eaves Have sheltered for the night ... — Claude McKay

Wonder at the magic of the Pine

green needled trees, still standing, bent, in Winter's time

while others drowse and sleep, leaning in against wind and storm

The Pine greets us, quiet with arms stretching, nearly every morn

Inspired by After The Winter by Claude McKay https://poets.org/poem/after-winter

Prompt via Winter #SolsticePoem Prompts (via Deanna): https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZjzQCxAlSozwsiWI-KBWYmTv6AdFEME4V9AQwrATcnE/present?slide=id.p

The individual ones with the oddest names are always the favorite ones with a curiosity to play

for #mastoprompt

Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone ... — Christina Rossetti

Below this surface the winter river still flows

the river flows but we can only observe it

we can't touch winter water with a surface like stone

the tension solidified into stone and the sword is missing

the sword's gone missing with the magic is sleeping

and while the story sleeps the water tumbles over iron Earth

tumbling, caressing this Earth of iron, and still, the winter river flows

Inspired by A Christmas Carol by Christina Rossetti https://poets.org/poem/christmas-carol

Prompt via Winter #SolsticePoem Prompts (via Deanna): https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZjzQCxAlSozwsiWI-KBWYmTv6AdFEME4V9AQwrATcnE/present?slide=id.p

One twelfth of a foot One thirty-sixth of a yard One little notch on a measuring stick where every inch works so hard

for #mastoprompt

The lantern swinging bearing down, pressing the dark to a sliver ... – Tobi Kassim

I am imagining pinpricks

small darts of glittering light

Stories unfolding where context is everything

And I – I know nothing

I am reader, observer, listener, writer

and there he is, penning his way through another constellation altogether

I weather the uncertainty and wonder if he, too, sees my light

Inspired by A Blind Spot, Awash by Tobi Kassim https://poets.org/poem/blind-spot-awash

Prompt via Winter #SolsticePoem Prompts (via Deanna): https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZjzQCxAlSozwsiWI-KBWYmTv6AdFEME4V9AQwrATcnE/present?slide=id.p

Anyone who advises you to stay neutral

never got into it with the other side never got threads tangled in their quilt of lies

never brought logic to an illogical fight never pushed up against madness, a tilting night

Neutral won't do - not anymore - neutral won't do

for #mastoprompt