in the circle of the evergreen wreath
Every year, during Advent, I either purchase or make a wreath of evergreens to celebrate the coming of Christmas. Last year, making the wreath, I had a little help. Zoë decided the perfect place to perch herself was within the circle of the wreath.
Our wreath materials were all obtained on our lake property. The species we used for our wreath were:
- White Pine (Pinus Strobus L.)
- White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.) also known as Arbor Vitae
- Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.)
- Common Juniper (Juniperus communis L.) -the variety we used was too prickly and I won’t use it again.
~
At this time of Advent, we wait in the darkest days of the year for Christmas. The wreath is one of the most endearing symbols of this wait. Made of evergreens, it speaks to the concept of everlasting love. To count down the Sundays before Christmas, we light purple and pink candles to symbolize ideas of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The lighted candles also represent bringing light into the world.
The wreath is another of those symbols borrowed from pagan times, when the circle represented the ever-changing seasons and the circle of life. The evergreen stood for the part of life that survives the winter season and candles symbolized light shining through darkness.
~
~
gathering green
~
in the space between solstice
and the whisper of stars
in a herded sky
daylight shrinks, always one hour
short of rested
~
in the thicket we gather
armloads, garlands of green
fragrances of cedar and pine
red dogwood twigs
stems of red berry, alder cones
curved boughs of fir
~
flexible as mattress coils, piled on ground
to rest, await brief
overlap, longest night
and feathering of angel down
~
watch, through the trees
the struggle
planet light
and pagan fire
~
~
© Jane Tims 2012
nichepoetryandprose 
I searched for Zoë on your blog to see what she looks likes – what a sweetheart, sitting pretty in the circle of evergreens! And I love your poem – the whisper of stars – I’ve heard it, too…
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Barbara Rodgers
January 16, 2013 at 1:13 pm
Hi. She’s our best cat ever. She is telepathic… sits and stares at me until I can do her bidding!!! Jane
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jane tims
January 16, 2013 at 7:34 pm
Love the photo of Zoë plunked down in the middle of the wreath. I wonder what it is about cats and circles? Mine will sit in the middle of just about any kind of circle.
Beautiful poem, Jane.
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Robin
December 7, 2012 at 4:10 pm
Hi Robin. Thanks. Zoe loves circles and boxes. Any confined space will do, even if it is only enclosed in her imagination! Jane.
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jane tims
December 7, 2012 at 6:03 pm
I didn’t know that the wreath is something from Pagan times! Wow. Thanks for enlightening me.
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dearrosie
December 5, 2012 at 2:53 pm
Hi. I think a lot of our symbols are adopted from early times. So many Christmas traditions are based on natural themes (evergreens, fire, berries, logs, stars). I think it is one reason why Christmas is my favorite time of year. Jane
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jane tims
December 5, 2012 at 5:25 pm
The poem touches my heart and calls up memories of Advents past, of making wreaths with my children and of marking the weeks from darkness to light with the lighting of candles. You write poetry so beautifully. I love the images in the first verse and the last two lines especially.
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Carol Steel
December 5, 2012 at 8:38 am
Hi Carol. Thanks for the specific comments. It is good to know what ‘works’. I want to add some variety to my posts while I write my novel… it is easy to get caught up in details. So, my aim is one Christmassy post per week. Jane
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jane tims
December 5, 2012 at 9:13 am