Though it is past solstice,
darkness still comes on sudden –
though the day has been bright
and there’s still pale orange
around the horizon,
the trees have gone all silhouette,
bringing their near blackness
into the equation,
and the half moon, now in mid sky,
is already bright.
Early to bed and late to rise
seems a good motto
in this very cold time of year.

©Wendy Mulhern
January 4, 2017