Noticing - Dec 19 2024

 

Noticing

Dec 19 2024

The shortest day of the year

will pass unnoticed.

Because when a city is bathed

in artificial light

it's never really dark.

And in December

when every night seems long

what’s a minute here or there?

The return of the sun

that quelled the fears

and rekindled the hopes

of our ancient forbears

means nothing to us.

Because we know too much

to watch the sky for signs,

are too busy

to bother even glancing up.

Take for granted

that the circling of planets

a constant sun

and the tilt of the earth

give order to the world;

have no doubt

the sun will return.

And anyway, are far too distracted

by the frantic holiday rush;

its raised expectations,

obligations,

mountains of waste.

But oblivious or not

the light will return, bit-by-bit

in the days that follow the 21st.

And I will make a point of noticing.

Will revert

to my heathen forbears;

the pagans and pantheists

who were good at giving thanks,

did without extravagance,

and made a practice

of noticing;

the small things

that truly matter.

Who were content to stand in place

instead of rushing past,

and wise enough

to look up at the sky

instead of down at screens.

A celebration of light

on the darkest night of the year.