Poetry Sunday

Today is the last day of 2023, and it's only fitting that we should end the year with a poem that looks ahead to the coming year ... which we hope (against all evidence) will be better than its predecessor. 

New Year Poem 

by May Sarton 

Let us step outside for a moment

As the sun breaks through clouds

And shines on wet new fallen snow,

And breathe the new air.

So much has died that had to die this year.

We are dying away from things.

It is a necessity—we have to do it

Or we shall be buried under the magazines,

The too many clothes, the too much food.

We have dragged it all around

Like dung beetles

Who drag piles of dung

Behind them on which to feed,

In which to lay their eggs.

Let us step outside for a moment

Among ocean, clouds, a white field,

Islands floating in the distance.

They have always been there.

But we have not been there.

We are going to drive slowly

And see the small poor farms,

The lovely shapes of leafless trees

Their shadows blue on the snow.

We are going to learn the sharp edge

Of perception after a day’s fast.

There is nothing to fear.

About this revolution…

Though it will change our minds.

Aggression, violence, machismo

Are fading from us

Like old photographs

Faintly ridiculous

(Did a man actually step like a goose

To instill fear?

Does a boy have to kill

To become a man?)

Already there are signs.

Young people plant gardens.

Fathers change their babies’ diapers

And are learning to cook.

Let us step outside for a moment.

It is all there

Only we have been slow to arrive

At a way of seeing it.

Unless the gentle inherit the earth

There will be no earth.

Have a good day, enjoy the rest of your weekend, celebrate New Year's Eve safely, and be sure to cast those final votes for the 2023 Ass Clown of the Year, who will be announced in this spot tomorrow. See you then, to begin a new year full of more thoughts.

Bilbo

P.S. - Here are the top five vote getters in the ACOY contest, as of the time I publish this post. You only have about 18 more hours to get your votes in, so get cracking!

The Republican Party/GOP - 565

Rudy Giuliani - 500

Moms for Liberty - 491

MAGAts - 403

Greg Abbott - 265

and yes, Kanye West is still dead last with one vote.

B.