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
