It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Ed is keeping the family well represented in the writing publications department.  Here is a brief intro and poem about him that appeared in the Christmas Day edition of Keeping Our Eye on Sun Valley .  The pictures aren't included, so I'll put the actual link at the bottom.

It came Upon a Midnight Clear

Ed Northen, a retired fire captain and paramedic who worked in the field in southern California for 34 years, could be considered the poet laureate of the Wood River Valley…along with former Blaine County Commissioner Len Harlig, of course! Northen, who has been writing poetry for 20 years, has been published in Word Gathering, Ariel, Chimera and Poetry Works and reads at local poetry gatherings.                 He kindly allowed us to use one of his poems to brighten your Christmas Day!                 When he’s not writing poetry, you can find Ed at Galena Lodge where he volunteers on the BCRD Nordic Patrol. Or you can find him out practicing environmental stewardship, hiking, trail running and fly-fishing as a guide for Silver Creek outfitters.                              It Came upon a Midnight Clear From the Mountain top I peer through layers Of wintry firmament Air so translucent It has dimension I see beyond the stars Whose gaseous state  Burn brightly Like fiery diamonds Heaven is not far Not in distances Of light years But in the invisible The unseen Which envelops me. My vision is clearer Among the celestial luminaries When society’s chaos is removed And I am left With the sparseness of Essential thoughts I consider the forest Resembling matchsticks far below Living trees Which need not be cut down Except one To make a cross On which God Must hang To become the propitiation And I, an heir A bloody beneficiary Of Love On this sparse summit Suspended in air I abandon self Until my voice erupts With spontaneous chorus This Eve of the Christ’s birth Gloria in Excelsis Deo

 Here's the link to the actual article with pictures.