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WINTER SUN by Lynda Grace Vargas


Our house is small, but has many windows, making it feel airy and light…

In the summer, the sun is too bright, too hot, and I close all the blinds. In fall and winter, when the days are short and the daylight is limited, I value the hours of sunshine much more.

Much like life, at the end of our years we value our time here on earth more, knowing how little of it remains. There is a feeling of joy about this, as well as sadness. And, sometimes, unexpectedly, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude.


                                               Winter Sun

The winter sun illuminates

                                                        different corners of our lives.

The sidelong rays cast warmth and light

                                                                      in unusual places.

We never saw that vase before,

                                                                  bathed in such a glow.

The leaves dance on the carpet

                                                       in playful shadows.

The framed photograph on the piano lights up a precious face,

                                                                                                             and leaves us 
breathless.

We must hurry to grasp each moment

                                                                  with gratitude

       before the winter sun moves on

to illuminate yet other corners of other people’s lives,

                                                                                               leaving us in the shadows


                                                                                                                 of our solitude.



Lynda Grace Vargas is a retired foreign language and elementary school teacher who loves romance languages and opera. She lovingly dedicated most of her life to being a full time mother to her three children and editing her husband’s law books. Growing up as a Patrick, one of the most well know families of professional ice hockey players and coaches, Lynda spent much of her youth performing in figure skating shows. She holds degrees from Vassar College and USD in education and lives in San Diego with her husband of 48 years where they enjoy a vegetarian lifestyle, reading, watching hummingbirds and the simple pleasures in life. 




~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~ 

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