For Winter.

Be ahead of all parting, as though it already were behind you,
like the winter that has just gone by.
For among these winters there is one so endlessly winter,
that only by wintering through it all will your heart survive. -Rilke

In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. -Camus

When Chekhov saw the long winter, he saw a winter bleak and dark and bereft of hope. Yet we know that winter is just another step in the cycle of life. But standing here among the people of Punxsutawney and basking in the warmth of their hearths and hearts, I couldn't imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter. -Phil

Warmth. Alive. Light. Green. Stars. Summer.

"Warmth. Alive. Light. Green. Stars. Summer. Warmth. Alive. Light. Green. Stars. Summer..." quietly at first, and slowly, but increasingly louder and faster as we danced around the circle in our mid summer celebrations. This chant was preceded by summer poems, summer readings, summer things. Katie had me read quotes about H.M. and we each shared what we love about this season in cheesy-go-around the circle fashion. We lit and relit candles which the wind blew out all too quickly and we danced and twirled the length of the dock, scarves in hand, flowing behind us and before us.

These festivities were followed by secret summer wishes written down on white paper and made into boats. Katie's began, "My secret summer wish is..." reminiscent of an assignment in the 5th or 6th grade starting "My summer vacation..." Still there was something healing and meaningful in writing down goals, hopes, desires in this way. I lay on my stomach and reached my arm over the edge until my white boat touched the cool black water. Then I followed its course with my eyes.

I cried on the train ride home as Rachel Sorensen held me.