honoring the solstice at "a bit of earth"

the snow ghosts danced and swirled across the road

 and disappeared into the dark woods.

the wind howled up the hill, slammed against the house, 

careened around the corner

and dissolved into sighs as it flew through the 

boughs in the great pine. 

the snow and the birches glowed faintly in the evening.

the branches snapped and cracked in the cold and

the stars twinkled.

We are put on earth for a little space that

we may learn to bear the beams of love.

-William Blake

Love is the only thing in the world of

which one cannot give too much.

-Ashley Montagu