To a New Year
To a new year:
That didn’t start with fireworks,
That didn’t see any ball drop,
That didn’t spill champagne with a clap,
That didn’t explode wild with music,
That didn’t burst balloons of every color,
That didn’t rush in a limo,
That didn’t get late because of traffic,
That didn’t gasp for breath,
That didn’t feast on a tornado of flavors,
And that didn’t crack alive with a countdown.
BUT ONE
That emerged vigilantly from the bushes,
like a panther on the prowl.
That perched observantly like a bird after a long flight,
on a carefully chosen branch of its favorite tree.
That sparkled like fresh spring out of parched rocks,
and made its way, effervescent like fresh rain on the earth.
That sprouted like a seedling, with its narrow eyes up at the sky —
so far in sight and yet so close in dreams.
That unfurled like rosebuds, with petals like waves,
drew me in and made me close my eyes with joy.
That was whispered like a prayer with words held close and true,
spoken with the assurance of being alive,
and later written with reverence like carefully placing jewels in a box,
Like this…
