tanka: winter’s feast
(out of darkness, light)
cold Advent mornings
dawn’s light shines in the darkness
winter solstice near
the star in the east heralds
earth and heaven intertwine
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
December 17, 2022
photos by author
Author’s note:
I love the season of winter solstice,
Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany to
which I pay homage to my patron saint,
Gertrud Nelson. Gertrud has taught me
more about these traditions and their
authentic meaning than anyone. Nine years
ago, I had the good fortune of meeting
Gertrud and attending her workshop on
these traditions thanks to our dear mutual
friend, Pastor Brian Hooper. Gertrud’s
book, ‘To Dance With God: Family Ritual
and Community Celebration’, has the best
descriptions of these traditions and rituals,
and practical guidance on how to observe
them in our daily lives, than any other resource
I have seen. Her book is available on Amazon,
and I highly recommend it. Following is a
quote from Gertrud describing the workshop
I attended with her: “What could possibly be
more exciting than incarnational theology,
celebrated, taken in, lived, enjoyed, understood?
We have a great store of traditions to draw from,
as we go from darkness to light. The traditions
are ancient and have belonged to people
of all ages. We have a tendency to paint over
these ancient truths with cheap paint and tinsel.
Years of accretions plaster over the hidden
within.….let’s scrape down what dulls the
deepest truths and find the gem.”
To which I say, “Hallelujah!”
