Gail Foster Poet Iambic Pentameter

The Solstice Door

The light is coming and I wish you well...

Behind the running, running man the land
Lies silent, fallow, haunted by the cry
Of one lone mourning rook who flies alone
Inscribing solemn circles in the sky
There is no time to take a backward look
Just running, running, running, running blind
He leaves the flowered garlands that she wove
With ribbons bright, with summer’s love, behind
He runs with only hope in empty hands
All faint of heart, with life blood running cold
The chill of winter earth beneath his feet
All water turned to ice in frozen fold
All out of breath with minutes yet to live
He runs, through elder grove and stand of yew
Runs, seeking for the ancient Solstice door
Described in tales the bards and ancients knew
 ‘Till suddenly he stumbles on a glade
All silent where no wild bird wheels or calls
And in the glade there stands a single stone
And on the ground a moon dark shadow falls
And there, within the shadow’s light he sees
That which before him other men have found
A stairway leading down in to the earth
A dark descending path in to the ground
No way but down now, this the only way
He gathers one last breath, and full of fear
Goes down the old and foot worn ancient steps
That lead towards the portal of the year
How dark the endless steps of winter’s stair
That shadow down, down to the Solstice door
To where, beneath the door a chink of light
Hints soft and bright across the cold stone floor
He sits upon the bottom step to rest 
Reflect, and contemplate the year behind
And lo, she comes, bedecked in leaves and fruit
And dancing, dancing, through his weary mind
Forget me not, she sings; I am still here
I wait for you, for life to shift and stir
And through the keyhole and the chink there blows
A fragrant waft of birch and silver fir
Reviving, blessing, soft upon his face
The promise of new life upon her breath
Touched by her grace he weeps upon the step
For she has saved him with her love from death
Another year dies, another lives
He sits and waits; she watches from afar
And as he waits the light in darkness shifts
And creaks the ancient Solstice Door ajar…

by Gail

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Jannie Breedt January 13, 2017 at 3:57 AM Speechless...almost. Another Iambic Pentameter of which you are the queen. I am going to have to inbox you because the way out lives are similarly twined somehow. Thank you for the inspiration. Ive now got one up my sleeve...

Gail Lewis September 2, 2016 at 7:00 PM Gail my love this is totally fantastic great Poem :)

Robert Lindley January 24, 2016 at 8:08 AM Most excellent and delightful reading that I've done this morn! Adding this gem to my fav list. Thanks A7

Skat A December 28, 2015 at 4:06 AM Gail, that's an epic or should I say deep read. The flow's amazing --the imagery is perfect. I do love the way, you end the poem. For everyone has that one person(s) waiting .. turning all dark into light... A sad yet wonderful to this end POEM.... SKAT

Lin Lane December 21, 2015 at 1:30 PM Gail, this is soooo wonderful. Your meter is right on, your story holds interest, and the ending is perfect... sad but perfect...goosebumps. fav and rating Lin Lane December 21, 2015 at 1:46 PM I'm glad you posted it. This is classic poetry, the kind I love best. It's fun to play around with new forms, but what you've written is excellent. I hope more people here read and comment on it. Gail Foster December 21, 2015 at 1:42 PM Thank you so much, Lin. I read this at Avebury on Saturday, in a circle with the bards. So glad you got goosebumps. I thought twice about putting this on line, but in the end I thought that it belonged in the world rather than in a dusty drawer. Best wishes to you.