After millennia underground,
this stone erupted to the surface
as the earth trembled and shook.
Chipped free of its stratum,
it was glacier-bound, dreaming,
until liberated by melting polar ice.
Then it slid into the ocean,
bounced off brain coral,
hitchhiked on a turtle, was
swallowed by a whale for two
hundred years before being
swept up in restless waves to
tumble at my feet. A cypher.
A rune from the universe.
A token of a sea goddess.
Left on the shortest day
of the longest year.
Copyright 2017 Brenda Davis Harsham
Notes: Happy winter solstice! What a year! We’re nearly to 2018. Happy Holidays and hugs to all the people who embrace magic, light and love!
Happy Poetry Friday and thanks to Buffy Silverman for hosting!
57 thoughts on “The Shortest Day”
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Friendly Fairy Tales 
“hitchhiked on a turtle, was
swallowed by a whale for two
hundred years before being
swept up in restless waves to ”
beautiful lines…brought a smile…well written 🙂
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Thanks!
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🙂
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What fun, Brenda! I’ve written a poem about the stories rocks tell, but I love your very specific tale of one rock’s long journey. Happy New Year!
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Thanks, Laura. Happy New Year to you and yours!
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I loved following the journey of your stone that arrived with just the right message at just the right time!
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Thanks, Kay! I’m glad you shared in the message with me.
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Hi, Brenda–
I thought I was going to enjoy again the Susan Cooper poem of the same name, but I got a brilliant surprise. This poem is a rich reminder to look down, look up, look out for the small messages of beauty that refresh our tired spirits. Thank you.
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That is a great poem by Susan Cooper. I found a link to it: http://greensideup.ie/tag/poem-by-susan-cooper/. Sadly, I hadn’t read it when I picked the title for mine, but, even so, I don’t think I’ll change it. My poem was on quite a different journey than Susan Cooper’s yule celebration. I’m glad my poem was a brilliant surprise for you. I needed the reminder, too. What a year.
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
LYRICAL LONGINGS OF A ROCK OPERA REALIZED! LOVE THE SCIENTIFIC JARGON—USED PROPERLY AND WITH THE EXCITING BITS! AND A HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE TO YOU, TOO (I EVEN WROTE ABOUT IT THIS YEAR)!
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Thanks, Jonathan. I hope you’re having a great holiday!
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Doing our best! Working Christmas night, but then someone has to mind the store buildings!
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You’re the man.
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My wife says so! 🙂
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What an amazing portent from The Universe! Glad you were there to receive the message and pass it along to the rest of us!
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I do think it was meant for more than just me. 🙂 Happy Holidays, Mary Lee!
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I love how your chance rock discovery led you on a creative journey and that you shared it with us! It’s such fun to imagine the paths that intersect in our lives–the rock’s journey and yours. Here’s to a year full of creativity and whimsy! (I’m at an air bnb and the internet connection is wonky so I apologize if this duplicates !)
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I love how your chance rock discovery led you on a creative journey and that you shared it with us! It’s such fun to imagine the paths that intersect in our lives–the rock’s journey and yours. Here’s to a year full of creativity and whimsy!
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Glad you like my little imaginary journey, complete with its secret message. Here’s to dreaming our dreams and making them come true.
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“A rune from the universe” is exactly right. We need to carry all the love and light we can into the coming year. Happy holidays, Brenda!
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Thanks, Catherine! I’m glad my poem resonated with you. And I agree. Light and love is the answer.
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Happy shortest day, Brenda! Interesting journey you depict…one must wonder about the stories of this little rock’s brethren.
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I’m sure there would be other fabulous stories on that beach. 🙂 Happy Holidays! I hope you have help eating all those cookies.
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I love the journey of this stone and the poem’s perfect twist at the end. You found a brilliant way to connect the idea of the shortest day to the reality of the longest year.
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Thanks, Joyce. It found its way to me. 🙂
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What a glorious find, Brenda! You have created a perfect poem to capture the heart of this stone’s journey. I wish you a joyful holiday and a blessed New Year!
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Thanks, Kiesha. And to you and yours.
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Isn’t it just serendipity when you come across a stone like this … I love your heart-stone and this stanza,
“hitchhiked on a turtle, was
swallowed by a whale for two
hundred years before being
swept up in restless waves to”
Glad it made it’s way to you so you could create this crater-rich poem for all of us to read! And yes it was quite a long year, but the last few months have flown by too quickly for me. Happiest of Holidays to you and your family Brenda! xo
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Thank you, Michelle, and to you and yours. May you and your art prosper in the New Year. XOXO
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Thanks Brenda, and you and your writing too!
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So creative , and a wonderful reminder to look at things around us with a bit more curiosity and wonder – even something as simple as a rock on the beach can hold wondrous stories, if we take the time to look and imagine!
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And the pastime is entirely free. 🙂
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Loving heart stones, and loving your ode to this one and the solstice, Brenda. The shortest day, yes, and certainly the longest year! Enjoy your holidays!
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Thanks, Linda. You, too!
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How marvelous that, after all those travels, it ended up with you. 🙂 Enjoyed your poem very much, Brenda. Here’s to a rejuvenating winter break!
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Absolutely planning on rejuvenation. If only that was a lasting magic. 🙂 As for my stone, it ended up with all of us, since I’ve shared its message widely.
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What a splendid tale! My favorite is being swallowed by a whale for 200 years. I have a very old story of a rock….you make me want to dig it out (or up) and work on it. Thank you and Happy Holidays!
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Thanks, Linda. I’m not sure where it came from. I had intended to write something else entirely and then didn’t. Life is funny that way.
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You ran with that one so well
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Thanks, Derrick. I’m afraid it might not stand up to geological scrutiny, but I renewed my artistic license recently. 😉
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I wouldn’t know 🙂
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The words are so beautiful, playful and powerful like the sea waves we admire and do wonder to us. Every word treated with gentleness and beauty.
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Thanks, Vishal. What a lovely comment.
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What an imaginative journey for your stone! (And yes, unfortunately I agree that this seems like the longest year….)
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I do fear we’re sailing into a storm next year. That makes these days of calm that much more necessary.
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Lovely words, and so very fitting!
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Thanks!
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wow Brenda – you have a magic touch – this is deeply impressive with beautiful meaning!!!
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Thanks, Mihran! I appreciate your words very much.
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This post was a most excellent way to remember Winter Solstice! I’m giddy the days are gonna get longer now.
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Yay for more light, arriving soon to a neighborhood near you!
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Fabulous and beautiful stone.
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Thanks, Gigi. 🙂
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Brava.. 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
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Thank you!
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I love this journeyed stone poem. How perfect to start the winter, and celebrate the days becoming longer! 😀
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Thanks, Resa!
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