The Promise of Imbolc

The Imbolc Ritual Altar by Rebecca Radcliff (in the Commons via Flickr)

The Promise of Imbolc

Those who keep the Sabbats know

Each of them is not a one-day event,

But rather a season-long promise.

Those who keep the Sabbats know

The season of Imbolc is the promise

Of Spring to come.

Yes, there is still a lot of Winter to come.

Yule doesn’t give up easily.

Yes, January can be a struggle,

Snow, and ice,

Cold and damp,

Restless

Humans and animals alike.

Those who keep the Sabbats know

To look ahead,

Beyond the Snow,

Beyond the Ice,

Beyond the Cold.

Those who keep the Sabbats know

The promise of Imbolc.

They light the fires, confident

They have saved enough wood to

Make it through February.

Those who keep the Sabbats know

The season of Imbolc will reward them

With the occasional day of sunshine,

Warmth from above becomes a reminder,

Of the Spring to come.

©2016 Edward J. Branley

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