December 2024 Stack Talk
What was, is and shall come to pass
Winter Solstice (Yule) is on the 21st of December. The story of the never-ending battle between two kings brings a lightness to these dark, cold days that always feel like the deepest part of winter. For though we may not yet be able to notice nor feel it, days from this point forward grow longer and lighter.
The Oak & Holly King: Yule is the shortest day of the year, and as legend says, marks the never-ending battle between the Oak King and Holly King. On Yule, the Holly King is defeated by the Oak King who begins his reign by bringing longer days and shorter nights. Not until Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, will they battle again. Then, the Oak King will be defeated by the Holly King who will bring shorter days and longer nights. And so on and so on, the Wheel turns.
As we ready ourselves for Christmas, Hanukkah, and other religious holidays chock full in the month of December, my favorite “Frosty” poem always contributes to the mood of this special time of year…though it is not likely to inspire a joyful, “let’s go shopping!” frame of mind. It is instead, full of mystical ambiance, philosophical meandering, and beautifully descriptive phrases.
Note: I am posting this poem in its entirety so that you might enjoy it conveniently and not have to look it up. I am not profiting in anyway or claiming any part in its genius!
Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening
Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
December ruminations
Instead of going on about holidays and what they mean to me or were originally intended to signify, I think as this season approaches, I will just share some winterish poems that I wrote.
Sometimes this special time of year is not the happy, spiritual celebration it is supposed to be but is consumed instead with spending, gifting, hosting and attending gatherings and growing melancholy. For me, after I got past being the child who adored ripping off wrapping paper to open presents under the tree, after I realized Santa was not a physical being but an internal state of mind, this month became a more introspective time. A time to take stock in what makes life worth living and the importance of sharing love and peace with others. I feel an inescapable nostalgia that makes me go inward to try to coax out my inner child, who likes to hide. I also reflect upon how lucky and blessed I am despite my clumsy fumbling and bungling in this life.
There is a thin line between depression and the sort of melancholy I am describing. For me, tears, regrets, and even ghosts from Christmas past are opportunities to see a bit more deeply into my inner self, to allow more empathy toward others, and to be less judgmental. Usually, I emerge from this holiday season feeling a bit washed out, bland, and Scrooge-like when it comes to creative output, and I rest in stasis until Spring (I am as a field lying fallow).
For this reason, I will be taking a break from my regular bi-monthly posting schedule and resume in April. I think I might edit and post an oldie from time to time during Jan, Feb, Mar, but mostly just use this time to enjoy reading others’ posts and participate sporadically on Notes.
I wrote the below haikus last 2023 winter when I first started my Substack, so this is their second posting. I thought to give them another chance to be seen by a more robust group of readers…my subscriber count back then was maybe 3 or so. As usual, I have changed them up a bit, with the intention to improve.
Image #1: thoughtco.com Image #2: metrotimesatlanta.com Image #3: wallup.net
Winter Haikus (re-post)
Blackberry winter Intrudes upon June's sweetness Fragile blossoms fade. Barren trees trembling, Gray flannel skies and bleached clouds, Icicles shimmer. Pond skaters slice small Cuts noisily on dark ice - White gauze covers wounds. Cinnamin candles, Short days and lingering nights 'Till the Oak King comes!
The below are new additions of winter-themed rhymey little things and some haikus. I hope you enjoy!
Winter is Coming! When hell freezes over, Is when Winter comes to take Whatever's left of Summer Lies trembling in its wake. No more rollin' in the clover There's no slow-down nor halt. Don't look behind or you might find The world has turned to salt! When Winter Comes Sleepy, dark cold has me in its clutches And turns my mind to morbid things Even as I long for Spring. When I die, it shall be in the deepest part of winter Where snowdrifts gather, and raindrops freeze Ice daggers threatening from underneath eaves. Do not mourn my passing here Weep not for me and quit your fretting! "...birth is but a sleep and a forgetting..."* * "Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood" by Wordsworth, my favorite poem, which no matter how many times reading (warning: it is quite long!), still brings tears to my eyes. I don't really like to use other poet's stuff within mine, but I did credit it properly and it just fit so well. If you are unfamiliar with it and you like classic older poetry, you should give it a read!
Winter Solstice Haikus, 2024
Darkling Yule arrives
But a fledgling brightness grows -
Frosty nights dwindle.
Inside etched windows
Faces peer at barren fields
Where crystal flakes fall.
Bone cold nights reach for
Children snuggled safe beneath
Soft pillows, warm sheets.
The Oak King's return
Heralds the time for rebirth
All hail, Mother Earth!
FICTION WRITING CONNECTIONS/COMMUNITIES/RESOURCES
A few new finds included! Check these guys out:
Macabre Monday with John Coon, Shaina Read, Jon T, The Chronicler (subscribe/submit in Chat only)
Terran Tuesday with The Black Knight
Teaser Tuesday – with Marco
Warrior Wednesday with The Brothers Krynn
Readers/Writers Wednesday with A.C. Cargill, Author
Thorny Thursday with Joseph Wiess
Throwback Thursday – by Redd Oscar
Sci-Fi Friday with Andrew Smith
Sword Saturday with The Brothers Krynn
Funny Sunday with Addam Ledamyen
Microdosing and THE FICTION DEALER with Miguel S.
Connecting Readers to Writers with A Literary Eye with A.C. Cargill, Author
MicroZine & Top In Fiction & The List with Erica Drayton
Substack Accountability Corner & Find Your Tribe with Mika
Horror Haiku Club with Honeygloom
Bookish with Christine Sneed
Fictionistas with multiple hosts
Footnotes and Tangents & Endnotes (monthly) with Simon Haisell includes a Book Group Directory
Talebones ✨ Talestack News Fiction Bulletin with S.E. Reid
Sub Club with Shannan Mann & Benjamin Davis
rumblewrites with Lucy, places to submit writing
Serial Writers with Holly A Brown, compilation of serial writers and history writers
One Hundred Word Wonders with Caro Henry, writing prompts once per month
COMING SOON…
8 December Stack Talk is here! Stack Talk is on hiatus till Spring - see you then!
22 December, Canning the Story. This is a rewrite of a year-old essay written when I first started Substack in December 2023. Some looking back, some philosophizing.
January - Happy New Year! I will find a Goldie-oldie to edit and share, perhaps
February - TBA
March - TBA
April - Plan to resume a twice monthly posting!
HEY, DID YOU SEE THAT?!
If you like sci-fi with a mythical twist embedded in a memoir that draws from a fever dream while in contemplation an old album cover, this might be right up your alley! :D
https://wyrdplay.substack.com/p/the-morning-i-awoke-inside-a-strangers
Book, Movie and Other Recommendations
The Wild Robot. It is a book (I have not read) and a movie that I recently enjoyed with my 8-year-old granddaughter. She loved it (and she can be quite the critic), and so did I. I have heard (no surprise) that the book is much better, but as children’s movies go, I thought it was better than most I have seen lately.
Resurrection: Etrugrul (Netflix). This is a massive commitment to watch all the many episodes, but a fascinating account (I watched the version that was not dubbed but captioned - I love listening to foreign languages and voices rich in intonations I can try to grasp), of a violent and pivotal time in history (13th century). It is from the viewpoint of the Turkish people, and it showcases the struggles and triumphs of one of their most beloved figures. It came under controversy and some banning of certain episodes as most things do that try to stay true to telling how things once were instead of creating a false narrative to support current socio-political ideology. Well worth the time to gain insight into another culture’s mores and history, IMO.
Lost. A Netflix series. At first, I felt the characters were dull and stereotypical, but like most series, they began to grow on me. Not to mention my favorite fictional settings are usually in some sort of isolated world or island: Lord of the Flies, Watership Down, Island (Aldous Huxley), to name a few. When considering my recommendations, full disclosure: I am a Walking Dead fan and am drawn to finding long series I can binge watch - this may make my taste level a bit suspect! :D
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!
Thanks for the mention - and alongside so many wonderful people too!
Thank you for mentioning me :)