‘Tis the yeares midnight, and it is the dayes,
Lucies, who scarce seaven houres herself unmasks,
The Sunne is spent, and now his flasks
Send forth light squibs, no constant rayes;
The worlds whole sap is shrunk…’
From A Nocturnall Upon S. Lucies Day: being the shortest day, by John Donne
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Under the Julian calender Saint Lucy’s Day, 13 December, was the day of the Winter Solstice. Read the complete poem plus some useful notes at Representative Poetry Online
Picture taken during a brief snow shower at about 8 am on 22 December 2009.