The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
Salley, age 8
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
detail from “One Misty, Moisty Morning” in “Pocketful of Posies” 2010
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us – listen!
detail from “Little Jack Horner” in “Pocketful of Posies” 2010
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
detail of balsam pillow in “Felt Wee Folk” 2003
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
detail from “Little Jack Horner” in “Pocketful of Posies” 2010
Autographed copies of Pocketful of Posies are available from my Esty Shop.
SALLEY MAVOR 
oh, this is just beautiful! what a fun way to look at the shortest day of the year and the lovely winter season…well said…well illustrated.
Thanks for sharing this lovely poem and your beautiful artwork.
Love it! Thank you for sharing and Happy Holidays Salley!
Beautiful work and so much detail, you are so inspiring.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.
Debbie
Thank you for poetic words. I am making my bird seed tree ornaments and filling edible orange bowls of food for the animals on this longest night of the year.
Hi Salley –
My parents, boyfriend, and I saw your exhibit at the Thomas Dodd Research Library at UCONN on December 9th, 2011. We met at your booth at the RISD Alumni Show, early in December.
What a lovely, lovely exhibit. My Dad and I were reciting Mother Goose nursery rhymes. My mother and I were admiring the fine stitching and handiwork!
I love, love, love the background fabrics that you chose to display your stitchings. And, the frames were beautiful!
We feel very fortunate to have seen your exhibit in person!
Kate
Kate, thanks for telling me about your trip to the exhibit. And, of course I remember you from the RISD Sale!
You are so clever!!
Love the lacey snow!
Lovely! Thanks so much for sharing.
Sally, I love this post; thank you for sharing. Beautiful handwork accompanied by a beautiful poem. May I share this on Facebook?
thank you for the beautiful poem….touching…and all good for 2012..
Most excellent posting. Bravo! I love your work! Have a joyful day!
Hi Sally, I absolutely love your work and am a big fan. I am so very excited to finally be able to see some of your work in person when it is on exhibit in Carver MA in Feb (just down the street from me) 3 of my friends and I are making it a girls day out and are looking forward to seeing some of your Master pieces!
Nicki Lee
Thanks for writing, Nicki. To clear up any confusion, my work will be exhibited in New Bedford in March, at Artworks! as well as Gallery 65 on William. Also, I will be giving a talk sponsored by the Plymouth County Cranberry Quilters at the Carver Library on Feb. 6th at 10:00 am, which is and open to the public. I hope that you come!
Salley, you are by far one of my favorite artists to follow. I received the Felt Wee Folk and am trying to learn how to make some of this beautiful artwork. It is fun and relaxing. Thank you for following your heart in expressing your art and then sharing it with the world.