In Finland,
a single candle in the window
is the Christmas light.
In graveyards,
candles illuminate gravestones
through the dark winter days:
a haunting reminder
of life lights extinguished,
better than buried plastic flowers
in the moonlit snow.
Light dances like a living soul
in windows and on graves.
Single points of light,
simple festivity,
Christmas celebration
far away.
.
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Missing my Finnish host families and friends tonight, but remembering them with a candle in my window.
Light is galloping across the hills
Glistening roan, bay, and dun.
Splotches of palomino and skewbald
reflect the canter of the clouds
across the sun.
.
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©2012 Michael Russell Used with permission. If you love this image, you should check out Michael’s gallery!
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The light was so fantastic above Kalamalka Lake on the drive home today. I wish I’d had a camera to capture the long light, and gleaming fields of gold, russet, and brown above the lake! Words will have to do, though Michael Russell’s beautiful photo will give you an idea of the hills and the cantering clouds, at least!
I wish upon you
like a star.
I find you–
a hot rock cooling
in the field, enveloped in
tendrils of mist.
I turn and tumble
you in my mind
Transform you into
a perfect talisman,
hold you in my pocket
roll you in my palm-
a star to wish upon
for stars are only
burning rocks,
and we are all
stardust.
I hang you
in the heavens
to glow.
I wish upon
the wonder
that is you.
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I had modified a round plastic lamp shade into a bowl by putting a couple pieces of tape across the hole at the bottom. It was sitting out where it had just served as a draw bucket for a game of charades with my drama class.
We were waiting for the bell. Rylee picked up the lamp shade and set it on his head.
Justin looked up and said, “Hey Rylee, feeling a little light headed?”
Shawn L. Bird 