Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Our Heart's Desire





















What happened to those days of yore
shopping in the village stores
midnight mass with church bells chiming
then off to bed, our folks reminding
“Say your prayers, sleep tight.
  Santa comes tonight!!”

It doesn’t seem so long ago
through children’s eyes, we watched the glow
of trees with colored lights
and candles in the night.

And filled with bright anticipation
couldn’t wait for school vacation,
Decembers cold and white
and our whole world seemed right
            …in those Christmas days of long ago

Many years have passed since then
and so few from the past remain;
the trials of life have changed our views
such anger in the evening news.
And each one bears a certain weight
the loss, the illness culminate,
 caught up in the pain
 so little left to gain
            …what happened to the joy of long ago?


Ahead the future lies uncertain
it hides behind an opaque curtain—
only we decide
to stay or run and hide…
Oh! That we might feel the wonder
find the Peace, and shun the thunder
and that we might stake our claim
to the love that still remains…

 Perhaps then we will find the door
that leads back to those days of yore            
            to find the joy to light our way once more.

© Ginny Brannan 2019

The title comes from Dorothy Gale, who said  "...If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own back yard." We can't change the world, but we can change how we view the world, we have that power inside of us. May you feel the light and know the wonder of Christmas.

Photo Credit to: BalancingHome.com

Saturday, December 21, 2019

After the Storm

















Oh, that I could paint a picture
 of the images I see—
evergreens wrapped in ermine coats,
their branches dusted pristine white
clothed with fresh snow overnight.
The lingering storm clouds dissipate
  revealing firmament, so blue;
the bright sun shines through winter pines
now spread before us for review
and in this grace we are renewed!

© Ginny Brannan 2019

Image taken by Charlie Parant: Kirby, VT. Used with expressed written permission from photographer. Find this and more at Appetite for Photos blogspot or at Appetite for Photos on FB.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Winter Crossing












In the shadows past the headlights,
he crossed the lane with cautious grace.
I stopped the car for, as we know,
where one is seen another goes
—yet only one would pass this night.
I had such perfect line of sight:
he paused midway across the road,
then turned so I could see his face.
He wore a crown upon his head,
I counted four points, perhaps six.
He moved with purpose to his right,
and so I turned to watch him go.
He disappeared into the copse.
The only sign he left behind?
 His darkened hoof-prints in the snow.

© Ginny Brannan 2019

True story, driving home from work early Sunday evening 12/8/19. What a beautiful creature he was, too!!

Image Credit NatureExposure.com Bucks in Winter “Winter Eyes” by Timothy Flannigan