advent

despite or perhaps because of the
bone soaking rain that has been singing
green earthsongs to the season
and the cool that has us in socks midsummer,

we have brought the evergreen inside
hung it with strings of beads and every
carved or faceted christmas memory,
danced by its flickering light
a foot stamping belly laughing kind of dance
counted in eights and swinging steps
elbow to elbow. i do not know
whose dance this is or why tonight
to the sound of rain and a haphazard playlist
we have been shaking the rafters –
but it does not matter,
none of us know anything any more.

and we sing the songs
of gathering the faithful
songs of the light the light,
calling on what comes with
this turning of the year.
singing the songs
of oak and ash and thorn
throwing what we have
what we are into the fullness
of this night until the dancing
ends with a pause in the rain
and our ears rush
with the silence of stars.

let tomorrow find us here
awake alive at the edge of this turning
singing the bone songs,
the old songs and skin prayers,
speaking to the darkness
calling calling
that which is to come.

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For Brendan at Earthweal’s weekly challenge: O COME! ADVENT POEMS FOR EARTH https://earthweal.com/2021/12/13/earthweal-weekly-challenge-o-come-advent-poems-for-earth/