Rejoicing

We have another reason to celebrate this season: although the Mayan calendar suggested that the world would end on Friday – the day of winter solstice – we continue as we were.

I love how Timothy Steele brings the holidays and astronomy together in his contemporary holiday poem, “Toward the Winter Solstice.” Here’s an excerpt – and happy holidays!

Some wonder if the star of Bethlehem
Occurred when Jupiter and Saturn crossed;
It’s comforting to look up from this roof
And feel that, while all changes, nothing’s lost,
To recollect that in antiquity
The winter solstice fell in Capricorn
And that, in the Orion Nebula,
From swirling gas, new stars are being born.