Winter solstice at Roll Rights

10 miles or so from Roll Rights
The heavens opened, we
Felt the wrath of Winter rain
Its tumult frantically
Reminding us it was Winter
From the apparent Spring refrain
We knew however our ritual
Would clear the air again

And reaching the stone circle
With all its ancient charm
The sun was smiling down on us
And the air was very calm
And in that gifted moment
The light even and crisp
Adorning those bare branches
A delicate airy wisp

of A beautiful natural morning glow
As bright as one might see
Clearly the sun and the trees enjoying
A tete a tete, and we
Were party to their wondrous thoughts
But in minutes all was bare
The branches dull and lifeless
But clearly still aware

The wind was somewhat hoary
The ground was damp and cold
The moles were clearly under ground
With their playfulness on hold
We had a little Yule tree
And all our paraphernalia
Our Winter Solstice mini play
And ourselves and a dried dahlia

And various props and a jar of hearts
All Related to our play
We Placed them on a nice blue blanket
Borrowed from the Fae
A fire was lit, and licking the air
It surely danced away
Warming the immediate area
On this ever changing day

The stones so ancient always
Whispering to those
Who place respect within the sphere
And set memories to prose
The light was truly special
Picking up the wondrous sky
A scape of glorious magnitude
Such magnificence on high

Sweeping down to Chipping Norton
Exposing roofs and lights
It almost felt like faery land
Now within our sights
Friends came in their myriad robes
Their energy engaged
Veronica Arch Druid
Her aura always laid

Out for all to share and marvel
In her continued glow
Led us through the portal
Into the circle we all know
And so began the ritual
The Winter Solstice and
With eyes and ears and hearts
We all became one with the land

Friends who had come from everywhere
And we joined together here
We felt the perpetual energy
Pulsing it was clear
Above us the Moon awakened
Beyond the trees the Sun
Casting its pastel trail of life
Both appearing to have won

But sharing their vast countenance
And drawing from us much
Our warm breath rising solidly
Clearly so in touch
With the elements around us
Our accumulated air
Wafting skywards an elemental
Reason to be there

Soaking up that aura
Sharing all that light
All that real commitment
That clearly was in sight
The mini play was spoken
The Winter Solstice tale
5 players with ethereal notes
And a soft and musical veil

That spread before us and over us
Luca’s brilliant piece
That softly rolled into our minds
Helping to release
Any pent up emotions
Behold now all as one
Within the encompassing circle
Between the moon and sun

There was laughter there was sadness
Shared mirth all around
Then came the sharing of the food
When another ode was found
This one took a different theme
One of pagan lore
And of commerciality
That clearly did ignore

The nobleness of the Celtic souls
Of Druidic History
And set a peculiar path into
A future where we be
It spoke of a certain beverage
And fly agarics charm
Of the speckled forest warrior
Whose poison can disarm

A chortle here a chortle there
And the speaking stick took hold
And around the circle everyone
Recalled thoughts in the cold
The wind was getting up a bit
Jack with his frosty brush
And his easel were apparent
We felt his darkly rush

Down to Chipping Norton
All the gold lights shone so bright
We were sharing and were faring
Well despite the night
Coming in now rapidly
Our feet and fingers they
Were tingling a bit I know
Our hot breaths too did say

Much about the sudden drop
In the temperature around
But all got through their speaking roles
Before they were homeward bound
Hearts were opened freely
Tears were shared by all
Friends from the past and from plains long gone
Had, answered our call

They stood with us as shadows
The Circumference it grew
We closed our eyes and we lifted
To greener pastures new
Then our gracious Arch Druid
Announced the 3 times HO
We joined hands and we shared our breath
Adding to the glow

We had sung a pagan melody
Which had reached a wood that lies
Where woodsman had been working
It brought tears into their eyes
Its because we met them going home
And they stopped to tell us they
Were really happy to hear our dulcet tones
Along their way

By this time the cover of night was here
And the fire was made to low
Dave the gentle fire chief
Bathed in its latter glow
We shared our fondest farewell
And all lost in the night
Made our respective journeys home
In what was our ball of light

To experience the offerings the aura
And the thought
The silence of each moment
Whatever we had sought
To share and give and offer
And realise the worth
Of being with each other
And just knowing the earth

Another Solstice ritual over
Imbolc the next to be
At Clearwell Caves
In the Forest of Dean
On the 7th of February
Deep down in our mother earth
From the womb within
We hopefully will once again
Join hands and so begin

A new year together