Waiting For The Magic
When were we taught to be afraid of the dark? What bedtime story told us of monsters under the bed or warned us of wraiths at the window? Which fairy tale twisted shadows into malevolent spirits and deemed moonbeams inadequate to chase away evil?
On these cold December nights Edward likes to spend time outside by himself. He lays on the back porch - white fur glowing in the moonlight - and ponders the unanswerable, conversing with guardians both real and unseen. Sometimes I bundle up and tiptoe out to join him. A brief spin of his tale tells me he doesn't mind my presence. We sit in the stillness as I wait for the magic the dark always brings.
Redesigned in grisaille the too familiar world becomes new. The poplar trees are taller somehow, with personalities both individual and wise and I feel myself observed by round yellow eyes peering down from their uppermost limbs. The ice-grey floor of the garden wears multicoloured jewels casually thrown through the bedroom window by the lights of the Christmas tree. There are sounds only heard in the darkness. Nocturnes played on leaf and claw, the distant tinkling of a bell.
Treasures are unearthed in the darkness, flights of imagination that are grounded in the bold unyielding light of the day soar through a velvet midnight sky. I find tranquility in the night - there is time to sink into my true self and remember the sound of my own fanciful heart. The peace we gather in the long winter night shall clothe us in gentleness when the sun shines again.
On this, the night of solstice, the longest of the year, do join Edward and me outside in the dark if you possibly can. Let the quiet fold its wings all around you as you listen to the music the silence always brings. What a gift this longest night can be. For it is always in the darkness that the brightest stars are seen.
Beautiful as always. Thank you Pamela for words of peace and calm.
ReplyDeleteSandra
Otto likes to be outside in the dark on cold nights. I think I'll join him tonight for a while :-)
ReplyDeleteThere is something so magical about the night. It is when my imagination takes flight!
ReplyDeleteI have lost count of the number of years I have been visiting The House of Edward and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. I enjoyed your book choices, reading about William Morris reminded me of Emery Walker's House which you will no doubt have visited, if not be sure to put it on your list. xxx
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful! Captures these nights perfectly!
ReplyDeleteHere in Chicago, we have no snow. While I miss the usual glitter and glory of frost and snow at Christmas, especially at night, in this misty moisty weather we are enjoying, I can countenance sitting on my garden bench on the front porch tonight. Now that the shopping, baking and wrapping are done and dusted it sounds like a lovely idea.
ReplyDelete"Nocturnes played on leaf and claw, the distant tinkling of a bell"...really nice prose, Pamela.
My husband and I walked last night through streets bright with Christmas lights, then along the dark paths in the forest park where silent trees stood sentinel, and finally, we returned home to soft shining tree lights and the glow of fire. Light and dark - we couldn't have one without the other.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is a delight. Thank you for your poetic and elegant words. Wishing you and yours a most merry Christmas!
Sophie will be there. She has that PON trait of sitting watching stars. Her brother will be curled up in front of the fire.
ReplyDeleteHow I wish I could Pamela, but here on the farm in the UK the gale is so strong that it is difficult to stand up and the noise it is making is quite terrfying.
ReplyDeletea splendid sharing of darkness and light.....
ReplyDeleteP.S.
ReplyDeletei will now wait for the magic too.
thank you.
I love stepping out onto the front porch at night - and sometimes, at the is time of year, I wander down the driveway and along the street to look back at the cottage all decked out for Christmas. The feeling is of warmth and thanks, nothing overwhelming or gaudy, just soft floodlights illuminating the pine wreaths dressed with red ribbons, a few calm white lights outlining the arbor, a pine tree and the porch rails. Yes, this time of year the darkness is comforting, not scary-----------but I know for certain, as you mentioned, there are definitely eyes watching!
ReplyDeletePamela, thank you for all the lovely posts of this year. Hoping you, the songwriter, Edward and Apple have a very Happy Christmas - and many blessings in the coming year.
Hugs - Mary
Lovely thoughts Pamela as always. Thank you for the beauty you bring us all year long!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for a joyful and peace filled Holiday Season!
xoxo
Karen
The Arts by Karena
Pamela,
ReplyDeleteYour words soothe the soul. Thank you for such a peaceful solstice verse.
Happy Christmas to you and yours. May 2015 bring peace.
Karen