When The Nights Are Long.

When the nights are long

And the days are slight

And the winter moon

Is at her height

Darkness hungers

For something bright.

It grabs the moon

And takes a bite.

Bruised in scarlet,

Wounded in flight,

Moon falters in shadow

And surrenders her light.

But she is the moon

And not without might.

She musters her strength

And turns to fight.

Shadow is startled

And pulls back its blight.

The moon, still wounded,

Limps back into sight.

With scars on a surface

Of luminous white.

She brightens once more

The cloud-filled night.

Total lunar eclipse during a full moon on the winter solstice. December 21, 2010.

In the chill and darkness of these endless winter nights, remember that the solstice not only marks the shortest day of the year, but also the point at which the days grow longer.

And that's a merry thought.

Happy holidays.