Out of the Long Night

After a day of snow, sun.
In my small south facing room
great thumps of avalanche
from the roof.   Window
lights my face, lifts me up
to welcome the directions,
the elements.  Smoke from
the censor fragrant with myrrh,
frankincense.  I turn clockwise,
east to east while the pines
drip and the sky stands
still in all this turning.
Clouds mark the journey.

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to light
Rejoice, rejoice Emmanuel!

The words are seeds in memory
blooming this morning, small
bright shards in my heart, open,
open, to welcome the coming.

Rejoice.  Rejoice.  Rejoice.