... And hope for peace

So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, fest, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!
The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper

I'm finally happy with my origami Green Man, after a bit of tweaking. Not sure why I was so critical of myself - what was I expecting from 19 square pieces of folded paper?! Oh, and added some glittery holly berries... because I like shiny things :-)

Welcome Yule!

P.S. Love this poem. I think I post it every year!