For 2017

Digitalized photo by S. Auberle

January One

Another year to mend those fences if you can,        

those tattered hearts,  to water grass on this side    

till it's as green as the other.

Let us have champagne and pickled herring,

a chunk of rye bread and poems for breakfast.

Let that pale sun rise far to the south

and ice creep up north windows.

           

                        My African friend says

                        I wish u best of d best…        

Funny how beliefs fall away as we age---

dreams, ideas, salvations,

all dropped along the way

till there's just this --

cold ash in the fireplace

an empty wine bottle,

           

            still there are rainbows

            scattered on the ceiling

            from a crystal someone gave me

            long ago, and hope --

                            always there is hope --

                            that this year will bring us peace   

                            and that thing we most desire     

                            and may they be the same,

                            forever may they be the same.