December Days, December Nights

A DECEMBER DAY

Dawn turned on her purple pillow,

And late, late, came the winter day;

Snow was curved to the boughs of the willow,

The sunless world was white and grey.

At noon we heard a blue-jay scolding,

At five the last cold light was lost

From blackened windows faintly holding

The feathery filigree of frost.

Common Blue Jay

WINTER NIGHT

Pile high the hickory and the light

Log of chestnut struck by the blight.

Welcome-in the winter night.

The day has gone in hewing and felling,

Sawing and drawing wood to the dwelling

For the night of talk and story-telling.

These are the hours that give the edge

To the blunted axe and the bent wedge,

Straighten the saw and lighten the sledge.

Here are question and reply,

And the fire reflected in the thinking eye.

So peace, and let the bob-cat cry.

Aurora Bliss
Kim Norlien

"A December Day"

Sara Teasdale

(1884-1933)

American lyric poetess

"Winter Night"

Edna St. Vincent Millay

(1892-1950)

American poetess and playwright