Nancy Scott

WINTER SOLSTICE

Recycle last year's zeroes
of past tense.
Write their refusal to die
in a new year's present.
Look for a poem that can bear
the survival to come.
Know that wisdom
needs practice---
the grace of loud mistakes;
the quiet courage
of knowing how to follow,
knowing how to lead,
knowing how to wait
through the next long night
and the next
to learn need,
to learn want,
to learn worship.

Nancy Scott is an essayist and poet. Her over 380 bylines have appeared in magazines, literary journals, anthologies, newspapers, and as local radio commentary. Recent work has appeared in Kaleidoscope, the Lutheran Journal and Opening Stages. Her chapbook, Leveling the Spin is now available.