Dear Occupants, Accidents & Occidentals
Just yesterday it was yesterday
Now it’s already today
Confuse not mercy with weakness
Confuse weakness not with an upset liver
And confuse not an upset liver with love
It is the shape of the silence
Which defines the sound
Like winter rubbing against summer
Each refines the other
Only certain curtains can be drawn
The rest must be endured
The souring sermons
The centered self serving
The lion den Christians in Coliseum stands
Twixt ape and angel wandering
Torn between the knowledge
And the need
Do I worship the moon or sun
Or yet the blooded one?
I bloat and smell
Decay in age
The focus runs
~ Steven B. Smith
Good Man of Solstice Morning
gather berry, gather bough
evergreen and mistletoe
hang them high and lay them low
good man of solstice morning
foxes fresh from hunters’ skill
wear their fur to chase the chill
wrap yourself in man’s goodwill
good man of solstice morning
raise your voice and give a toast
wassail for the harvest’s ghost
join in tribute to our host
good man of solstice morning
roasted duckling, boar and hare
fruit and grain, a feast to share
find me waiting for you there
good man of solstice morning
hand in hand, the circle grows
singing, dancing as it snows
bring this old year to a close
good man of solstice morning
from the flames the sparks take flight
winging hope into the light
promise me you’ll stay this night
good man of solstice morning
late to come, too soon to leave
bid farewell but do not grieve
wear my token on your sleeve
good man of solstice morning
seasons turn another year
when the yule logs next appear
find me waiting for you here
good man of solstice morning
~ Dianne Borsenik