One Poem by Jeanna Ní Ríordáin

Solstice

The longest day of the year

Occurs when the sun reaches its zenith in the sky

Known as the summer solstice

Its name means both ‘sun’ and ‘still’

 

Revered since ancient times

As a celebration of the Earth Mother

On whose eternal power and bounty we rely

To enable growth, to nurture and sustain life

 

This day also serves as a reminder 

Of the shorter days ahead 

Of colder, more diminished light 

As the seasons shift towards their winter-bound decline

 

My grandmother died on the longest day of the year 

When her coffin was lowered into the ground 

A ray of sun broke out beneath the clouds

And the world stood still

Jeanna Ní Ríordáin is an Irish-language translator from West Cork, Ireland. She has a PhD in French literature, a BA in Irish and French and an MA in French, all from University College Cork. She has always enjoyed writing and begun writing poetry two years ago. Her work has been featured in The Quarryman, Poetry in the Time of Coronavirus: The Anthology, Volume Two, pendemic.ie and Lothlorien Poetry Journal Volume One – The Fellowship of the Pen. Her favourite poet is Victor Hugo.