WINTER KING
Winter, with its longest breath of exhalation,
creeps under the hoar frost white-netting earth’s surface,
a protective cover for the One-in-deep-sleep.
Activity is reduced, stilled to shadow size
as Winter, both King and guest, demands a mute pause,
an almost solemn death, before the birth of Light.
Then, during year's darkest night, new hope is kindled.
With an embryonic breath of inhalation,
every living thing is inspired into being.
Kaaren Whitney
Winter Solstice 2007
