I read somewhere that the earliest sunset is on December 13th. Did you think, like me, that it would be on Winter Solstice Dec. 21st? After carpool duty, I was walking to my car and saw this beautiful ray of sunlight peeking through the clouds. I noticed the sun was lower in the sky. My school is situated out in the country among sugarcane fields. This single horse only recently appeared in the field next door. At the end of a long day, this scene brought me peace.
Winter sun slyly slips
Margaret Simon, draft
lower in the sky
beckoning me to slow down
and be still.
Write a small poem in the comments and support other writers with encouraging words. Thanks for stopping by.
Reflections on the Teche 
Ah Margaret,
To be still…..a true gift. To wonder and love and
share. Your poem and the photo gave me a lovely moment to pause in my harried (albeit retired) world.
Gifts
Winter’s chill coats the sun,
sky, a more faded blue.
But a horse, alone in his pasture,
finds more than he needs
in this feathery world of light.
He breathes in, bends low,
nourishing his belly and soul.
Janet Clare Fagal draft 2022
Lovely Janet, especially your ending lines, thanks!
“feathery world of light” – beautiful!
Janet, the wonderful “coats the sun” dropped me right into the photo, and I welcomed the focus on the almost-hidden horse, breathing in, bending low—with their beautiful arching necks.
The horse is more visible in real life but this photo hides him due to the bigness of the sky. I’m glad he made it into your poem.
Thank you for this morning pause.
Horse’s Haiku
lightray breaks gray skies
nibbling on sweet winter greens
muffled miracle
Hi Patricia, Janet here from our poetry classes with G. and R. !!! I love that you, too, saw that sweet horse and wanted to right about him. Was thinking of a swerve version but have to work on my poems. This was the wrong time for me to take that class. No time to write like I need to write. Muffled miracle says it all.
*WRITE ( A writer should not mis-type that one!)
Nice sense of calm and I like the contrast in increasing rhythm between the first and second lines, thanks Patricia!
“Muffled miracle”—beautiful!
Love the m-sounds.
Beautiful, Patricia. Thank you!
Thanks for this calm waking today Margaret, via the image and your reflective poem, both nurturing and lovely!
Here’s mine,
DUSK
Sky drops down as
shade closes day— one single
whisk of sprawling light
spreads out and kisses earth as
one single horse fades away…
Michelle, I love the image of “sky drops down” and light kissing the earth—lovely!
Love the sprawling light kissing earth imagery.
I love how you described the time of day – whisk of sprawling light. sky drops down.
Michelle,
I love the entire poem. Kisses earth, sprawling light, Sky drops down. A true definition of DUSK. Thanks for your comment! I wish we could all meet in person some day!
Janet
whirring geese wings
herald the early sunset–
lake left in silence
You sent me googling, Margaret. The farmer’s almanac says sunset has gotten later since December 7, and here’s why:
https://www.farmersalmanac.com/days-will-feel-longer-from-here-on-out-16565#
A beautiful image, Buffy! Especially like the “lake left in silence”…
I love the imagery of the flying geese that leave the lake in silence. Thanks for the link.
Lovely! Especially introducing whirring geese.
Ah yes, I know that whirring sound of those wings, we have snow geese who nest on our lake in winter. I am blessed to have a lovely Finger Lake so near to enjoy all its picturesque moments, but don’t live on the lake. But it’s the jewel of our village so we can visit it downtown.
Beautiful photo and poem, Margaret—as always, I’m delighted and soothed by these posts…
Nature’s Classicism
I wrote a paper long ago
about the triangles
in Jacques-Louis David’s paintings—
the ones I loved
Here the light splits sky
into three, this arrangement
of varied, fading blue triangles
more treasured yet.
Such an interesting view of this photo…varied triangles to treasure.
A poet’s view indeed!
I found the triangles, Carol! I’d never heard of the artist you mention. I waited til this morning to ĺook with awake eyes! So clear and a treasure for you and now for me. The trilogy of sky. Most meaningful these days.
I’m posting late today. I was thinking about light this morning also, so I was excited to see this photo. But it stayed with me all day.
Light breaks through,
spreads hope and love
on all
who dwell below.
Rose,
Those beams, they bring in the light through all our empty spaces and it is so nice when we think about how light can spread goodness. Like this season of homes all aglow. I know some do not find them attractive for whatever varied feeling, but I enjoy the season and the decorative lights. But the ones from above, they comfort. Your poem helped me to focus on how much I enjoy the light day or night.
I, too, feel hope and love when I see the light rays break through the clouds.
Thank you for this beautiful invitation to slow down and enjoy the stillness of winter.
Morning! Margaret is a bit busy this morning…Today’s ‘This Photo Wants to be a Poem’ is over at A Word Edgewise. https://awordedgewiselindamitchell.blogspot.com/