A riddle
My first is in Jack but it’s not in his box
My second’s in hours but never in clocks
My third is in earth but it’s missing from clay
My fourth is in night but it’s absent by day
My fifth is in treasure but not found in thief
My sixth is in tree but it isn’t in leaf
My seventh’s in magic but lacking from spell
My eighth is in water but not in a well
My ninth begins solstice, a kindling of cheer
I banish the dark at the hinge of the year.
Text and image © Angela Williams 2017