It’s Poetry Friday! Kat has the roundup today here. Be sure to stop by, especially if you’re a cat (or dog) person, for a delightful tribute to the pets in her life. And, as always, lots more poetry goodness.
Last week on Poetry Friday I read how Heidi Mordhorst and her family celebrate Yuletide. For twelve days, from December 21 (Winter Solstice) to January 1, they light candles to commemorate a gift of the human spirit. You can read more here and here and how Heidi has used the ritual as poetry prompts.
I was drawn to this practice especially because it recognizes our gifts as light, my OLW for 2025. So, I decided to use Heidi’s poetry prompts to mark the year, one for each month. For January, I’m celebrating “the light of the sun and stars and the light that glows in every human soul.”
Morning Star
In the deep of December
I woke to clouds
shadowing,
swirling,
sweeping
the after-storm sky,
and one bright star
peeking through the turmoil.
There it was –
hope in the darkness,
a light to guide me
through the day –
so I made a wish.
Draft, RoseCappelli2025
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
Imagine the Possibilities 
I hear the “ deep in December” Rose—not just the literal deep. Which really gives poignancy to the blessing of light shining in the darkness. xoxo
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Thanks, Patricia! Enjoyed seeing you in the class last night. Thank you for the encouragement to attend. I loved it.
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Rose, your line ”so I made a wish” sparked my imagination.
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Thanks for reading, Joyce!
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Rose, this is it!
“…and one bright star.”
We can get by on this; I luv your poem.
TY for the Heidi M. links. I missed most of Dec. in BlogLand & will enjoy reading of her tradition of Yule Light. Appreciations.
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Thanks, Jan!
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Rose, I love that you found the one bright star peeking through the turmoil. An important message for the coming year! May your wish come true!
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Thanks, Tracey. And thanks, too, for the lovely postcard that arrived today.
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Hope in the darkness. That’s what we all need to see… and be.
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Thanks, Kat!
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Rose, again I’m so honored to have you “investigating” my family tradition of lights at Yuletide! I love this part:
sweeping
the after-storm sky,
and one bright star
peeking through the turmoil.
And then your final line, not finding the answer, but making a wish. Lovely soullight.
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Thanks, Heidi!
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This is a wonderful idea for your OLW, a poem a month. I love how this one that points to the light of hope in a single star in the sky.
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Thanks, Margaret.
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A beautiful poem for a great OLW, Rose. I love how we’re talking about practices. It’s so important to have them – no matter what they involve. I think this is a great way to pay homage to the coming year. I look forward to reading more of your poems for this year.
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Great plan, using Heidi’s prompts over the course of the year! I love unexpected, cool ideas. Looking forward to following you as you light the way!
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I love the idea to choose a theme for “poem of the month”, Rose, and that ending, just right! I don’t see many stars in the city but do see the pleiades every early morning that I can get out! You’ve shown in your poem that wonder that we can feel when spotting something bright among the darkness. It’s lovely!
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Oh that after-storm sky. So beautiful.
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Your poem unfolded so beautifully. I love that through the aftermath of the storm you spotted a star to wish on. Lovely!
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Beautiful, Rose. I love “the after-storm” sky and “hope in the darkness.” The cardinal in the photo also adds that “pop” of hope with its vivid color amidst the snow and cold. (I used that same image last week for “Hope is the thing with feathers”! Such a gorgeous photo.)
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Thanks, Karen.
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Love all the interwoven connections between beautiful poetry peeps here! Your poem is lovely, Rose, and the last line – perfect. Thanks for sharing the light!
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Thanks, Robin.
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Lovely poem Rose, I’m going to hope and look for your light to guide us next week! I look forward to watching the journey of your OLW too, thanks!
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Thanks, Michelle.
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You will find Heidi’s prompts to be a rich source of writing throughout the year! I can’t wait to read your monthly poems!!
Also, I echo all of the YESs for that small bright spot of hope in the darkness.
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Thanks, Mary Lee.
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