21 Days of the Winter Solstice 5

Snow

White are the far-off fields, 

and white The fading forests grow;


The wind dies out along the heights, 

And denser still the snow

A gathering weight on roof and tree, 

Falls down scarce audibly

The meadows and far-sheeted streams 

Lie still without a sound;


Like some soft minister of dreams 

The snow-fall hoods me around;

In wood and water, earth and air 

Silence is everywhere

Save when at lonely spells


Some farmer's sleigh, urged on,


With rustling runners and sharp bells 

Swings by me and is gone;


From the empty space I hear


A sound remote and clear


The barking of a dog,


To cattle, is sharply pealed,


Borne echoing from some wayside stall 

Or barnyard far afield;


Then all is silent and the snow falls 

Settling soft and slow

The evening deepens and the grey 

Folds closer round the sky


The world seems so shrouded,
 so far away.

Its noises sleep, and I as secret as 

Yon buried stream plod dumbly on and dream.

I dream....

Lyric: Archibald Lampman (1861-1899)

Music: Loreena McKennitt


Blessings dark and deep!