Mother Night: Winter Solstice 2022

by Harper Feist

As priestess, I lay your strong body in the furrow

I fold your legs into a fetal position

The old stag of the year, come and gone

The longest night has begun, our greatest work

together

You cast your glance up into my green eyes

your brown ones already beginning to cloud over

As priestess, I gently stroke your forehead as you go

your breath becomes ragged

Briefly, you struggle

as you do every year

to take that one last breath

And then, it’s over

you lay in my arms, body still and cooling

Shaggy antlered head resting in my lap

I sing slowly to your empty physical form

It stops my heart to feel you rigid

I weep, as I do each time

As priestess, I wait, and deeper, so do you

There is blue in the east when I strengthen my song

Winds pushing the savage red clouds on the horizon

Ice has formed on your coat

But when the first rays of sun race over the horizon

As priestess, I kiss you

and then

your body twitches

first a hoof, then your nostrils

and you take the first deep and resonant breath

of the new year

Your deep eyes flutter open

I kiss you again

your hooves push against the dirt

my hands flat on your powerful body

warming

your enormous heart pounding under my palms

and you are

full of life once again.