Solstices

write please read and enjoy

Saturn returns to shorten the day and stretch the night

once more to swallow his son; a stone replaced

what was sewn is harvested, a star tells their tale bright

Jove survives by deceitful, maternal good nature and grace

over the Omphalos of Delphi let their story-dance twirl the world with might

and bring the blessing of mistletoe to a cold, red face

before we call upon our druidic priests to set the yule log alight

Of your columns, the reaping of your memory

I hang all manner of shine and shimmer

in honor of the infinite cosmos and lost souls, rest peacefully

no offering in your name, of mine that glimmers

matches the splendor your brilliance lays over the land on me

the beauty of silver when it glows, ethereal, like heavens minted a glint, but a taste of a coin

divine on the eyes, deriving all other senses of pleasure, the appetite, envy, I must purloin

I forgive all wrongs I have not stated forgiven, all grudges not made known released, I release

all debts unpaid to me, I won't collect on them anyway, I only have only seven days as mock king to do as I please

with all of my heart and only a few words, I love all unmet and unknown, readily forgetful of foul history as a blink's worth of wing beats from mocking birds

we may be prisoners for the time being, but our prison is a construct of our mind

freedom is a time-being, you must make the difficult and responsible decision, conflict is no contract, possessions are no bind

where you are, what you have, these are grains of sand to the hourglass of who you are or if you are content to be resigned

In exile he was peaceful, a father to Picus, a teacher to his people

they celebrated him, turning their stigmas and laws upside down

that Saturnalia, slaves were masters and one condemned prisoner wore a crown

for 7 days from the 17th of December, the poor were rich, the lords served peasants and every night was a feast to remember

on the 21st they cleanse the bad luck of the prior year, sacrifice and offer to the gods for all those who have died here

they all are in awe of the moon, the sun and stars

Sol Invictus, the Unconquered Sun, who is greatest among ours

on the 25th we celebrate Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, the renewal of the sun,

we rise to observe King Helios, light bonfires, offer sacrifice, feast in accordance, and decorate before we're done

They changed the world and stole the fine details

gawking at the planets now, 800 years passed,

that we worshiped until our eyes were torn, controlled and our gaze was cast

until we were stolen from our gods, who return to us at last.