A Midwinter Walk

Join me for a ramble down a Yorkshire country lane and the birth of both a day, and a poem

I read somewhere, recently;

“Problems are best solved at around 3mph”

I’ve no idea what my walking speed is but the sentiment struck a chord. When you’re walking, the physical aspect assists the mental. Your mind turns as your feet shuffle forward and it feels like ‘teamwork’. Components working harmoniously to find peaceful resolution.

One of my favourite things to do is walk as the sun is rising. It’s like bearing witness to an egg cracking open.

This image also assists problem solving - as sun is released as yolk, it serves as metaphor for unlocking the capacity of the brain. Light is literally shone on matter and you are taken from a place of unknown muzziness to growing clarity.

So much is made of the limited hours of daylight this time of year, but oh the quality of that light! Winter light is my absolute favourite. It beams like a prying torch, unhindered by the faff of foliage and flowers. It illuminates the bones of the world and for that reason, I adore it.

I am lucky enough to have many wonderful walks on my doorstep in all directions, both moor and woodland. It’s just a case of selecting one.

So often the position of the sun informs my decision. To walk away from a sunrise feels like turning your back on life. Walking towards it, has the opposite effect - you accept a bold invitation.

Greeting a rising sun feels like welcoming a reliable old friend with an enormous, eclectic wardrobe. You know she’s going to show up, yet what she’ll be wearing is a complete mystery.

Sometimes - holy cow - she’s gone all out extrovert and is totally rocking the magenta! “Look at you! Wow! You look amazing! You should wear this more often!” You tell her.

“Piss off”

She replies curtly.

“I’ll wear what I want when I want”

And the next day she’s back sulking in some fuzzy peachy-beige number as if to make a point.

As I set off yesterday, dawn was but a forming murmur. I noticed a line of puddles before me like fallen silver pennies from a giant’s pocket.

The mud chewed my boots as treacle toffee. I enjoyed having my feet pulled towards the core of the earth, the sensation of sticking and letting go.

The swirling valley mist seemed to be in conversation with the steam that emerged from chimneys. How fast it moved and disappeared.

I briefly entered the woods. How bare the trees, so little else to do but fork and prod to bruise the sky.

Then, came first amber glows.

They peered and pierced my gaze as curious Peeping Toms, becoming ever more brazen through the nicks of prickly holly. I moved into higher ground and beheld the views as barley sugar cameos.

Greenish orbs began to follow me down the lane like fairies and valley mist was lit. How it rose to the occasion as though yielding to an intoxicating alchemy.

I stopped briefly to take an evergreen in my hands, rub between my thumb and fingers, release its essence and lift it to my nose. I marvelled at the various berries - not just holly but pyracantha, winter green and others I could not name.

The moss also looked spectacular, rich and velvety as it blanketed both dry stone walls and lone grey stumps.

As I neared home, I noticed how the field took on the appearance of lines on a newly mowed lawn. The sun had sectioned it into bursts of radiance. I observed my shadow within it and felt immense gratitude to be a part of such wonder.

On my arrival at home, I was inspired to write this poem. I hope you enjoy it and the photographs and videos (below) too. Solstice blessings to you all.

Midwinter Magic

A cauldron of December broth

Enchanted all who passed her

As chimneys spoke in twists of breath

To grazing cows in pasture

Puddles, silver riddles

Lay, for muddy minds to grapple

Sun hung, a blazing saddle

On a horseback of dawn dapple

I felt the cauldron’s potion enter

Start to take effect

My heart alert, touched by the earth

And searching to connect

Orbs courted air as fairy queens

Draped amber shawls around me

My shadow held in chambered gold

Midwinter magic found me

PS Just a note, I can no longer reply to DMs. Aside from the fact that my old phone won’t update the app, substack has now decided ‘my’ country now requires age verification to access this feature. What??? Not happening! 😉

PPS: Thanks for reading. I now have more than 400 pieces on substack. If this musing and poem speaks to you or you appreciate it, you can find more under the headings ‘musing’ and ‘poetry’ on my home page.

🎄Have yourselves a merry little Christmas🎄.