when energy spins away with mother sun
mute blanket’s dark dampens our warmth
maker’s kind start: the cold light of snow,
a spark that ignites spirits’ lumen glow.
we clay take gifts, fashion night to day
and create season’s charged illumination;
pull together gatherings for illumination
with fervent pleas for quick return of sun.
wreathes of ever greens light holly days.
hat to hat, boot to boot, bask in warmth;
million souls join, sing, in candles’ glow.
shadows dance polished sheen on snow
oh, the abuses suffered by season’s snow!
melted by a blazing bonfire’s illumination,
yet it harbors no resentment. see it glow,
companion to flames, amorph white sun;
it gives hopeful light even without warmth,
a merciful illusion blanketing darker days.
the inglenook creates bright place of day,
cozy dream so far away from blight snow.
we wrap ourselves in red-yellow warmth,
wood smoke, footsy, brandied illumination;
close-eyed meanderings in summer’s sun,
hands to contented cheeks in flame’s glow.
across the night sky distant twinkles glow,
seen only when ’tis gone the light of day;
still hours yet before return of distant sun.
feet cold now from standing in the snow, I’m
satisfied with heaven’s wordless illumination;
crunch back inside to snuggle your warmth.
together we vanquish dark with warmth,
infuse soul’s circulation with its glow.
true blessings come from this illumination,
where blackest pit shines zenith’s day.
we must affirm beneficent grace of snow;
seek out, be open to community’s sun.
cultivating warmth flips script of night to day
friendship’s kindled glow thaws heart’s snow
nature’s teaching brings illumination of sun
top image link
sestina form
Sarah is today’s host for dVerse’ Poetics. Sarah says:
So give me a poem about light.
Am also linking this to earthweal‘s Open Link Weekend. Happy Holidays, Brendan and Hosts at earthweal.
Tao Talk 
Very nicely done, Lisa. Snow and darkness really do a duel assault on us this time of the year!
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Thanks, Dwight. I think snow gets a bad rap. Think of how dark it would be without it in winter!
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Yes, it does reflect what little light there is and beautifies the landscape!
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Great sestina! The form is so meditative, and it works well with this tussle between light and dark.
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Thanks much, Sarah ❤
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Apparently I used to have an inglenook and never knew it! You just don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone! Lovely piece Lisa.
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So cool, Randy. We had inglenook as a prompt word awhile back where I learned what it was. Here’s the poem I wrote:
https://tao-talk.com/2020/12/14/dverse-quadrille-118-poet-pub-sanctuary/
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Hi li, great poem, loved it, I have set my blog to private, with select viewers only! If you want to be a viewer go here
http://therapybits.com/
to request access. Xx
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Thanks, Carol Anne. Just sent you a req.
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Will get you in a couple of minutes. Thanks, Lisa X
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A beautiful, heartwarming poem Li.
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Sadje, thank you very much.
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You’re most welcome
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I truly believe winter can be thoroughly enjoyed – it’s all in the attitude and embarrassing the unique personality of winter – (and dressing in layers – LOL)
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Margaret, thank you very much and agree.
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I remember ‘inglenook’ being a d’Verse prompt once! ❤
~David
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David, it was the dVerse prompt that introduced it to me (thanks, Linda!) and I’ve loved it ever since.
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🤗
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I have not written a sestina in a very long time though i was at one tine fasicinated with this form.
I like your poem a lot.
Thanks for dropping by my blog.
Much💌love
P.S. that’s one of the forms i should revisit
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Gillena, you absolutely should revisit the form. It’s challenging, enjoyable, and so much can be said with one. Glad you enjoyed the poem ❤
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Wow. I’m a huge Pentangle fan, and I was surprised to hear my favourite song on your post. I saw them live several times when I lived in Germany, and Burt Jansch used to play the clubs. I’ve only fairly recently converted my husband to Pentangle! And your poem has picked up on the rhythm of the music. I love the opening line, ‘when energy spins away with mother sun’ and the lines:
‘maker’s kind start: the cold light of snow,
a spark that ignites spirits’ lumen glow’
and
‘wreathes of evergreens light holly days’.
together we vanquish dark with warmth,
An epic poem of all kinds of light!
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Kim, I’m new to Pentangle but one of their songs (this one!) ended up on my spotify playlist and I fell in love with it. “Borrowed” the album this is from from hoopla, the digital service my library uses, and was listening to it last night. They are danged talented. I even heard the sitar in some of the songs which is really amazing. So awesome you’ve seen them live several times! Thank you for your much appreciated feedback on what you liked from the poem. I always learn from your perspective.
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This is incredibly deep and potent, Lisa! I especially resonate with; “we must affirm beneficent grace of snow; seek out, be open to community’s sun.” 😍
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❤ High Praise, Sanaa. Thank you.
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You have produced a masterpiece … describing where I live with grace and uncanny accuracy … “together we vanquish dark with warmth” says it all, Lisa. Brava and Cheers!
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❤ Helen ❤ So happy it resonated with you.
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I am so impressed you brought us a sestina… and it works so well with those repetitions of end-words making it very meditative… I read it all the way through before realizing that it was a sestina which I think is good sign.
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Bjorn, I wrote this sestina thinking of you as I know how much the weather gets to you at this time of year. Hope it helps keep you feeling its light ❤
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I feel better now
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Fantastic Lisa!
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Thanks, Max!
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Like the affirmations of winter in this- of snow reflecting light and the cultivated warmth of relationships!
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Thank you, Rajani.
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Charged language loves contradictions, and “cold light of snow” lamps the glow of this winter’s poem. Well done!
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Brendan, thank you very much.
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I love a good inglenook!
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I’d love to have one!
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No one lets you sit inside them when the fire is going anymore!
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Epic ✨
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Thank you!
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A wonderful ode to the season, Li. I liked the concluding line. “nature’s teaching brings illumination of sun”. 🙂
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❤ happy the last line resonated with you, Kitty. Many thanks.
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You are welcome, Li. 🙂
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