Saturday, December 31, 2011
The New Year
(World without Shadows by Maud Lewis, 1903-1970,
Canadian folk artist)
Best wishes for a Happy New Year, dear Readers.
THE NEW YEAR
The Old Year’s gone away
To nothingness and night:
We cannot find him all the day
Nor hear him in the night:
He left no footstep, mark or place
In either shade or sun:
The last year he’d a neighbor’s face,
In this he’s known as none.
All nothing everywhere:
Mists we on mornings see
Have more substance when they’re here
And more of form than he.
He was a friend by every fire,
In every cot and hall —
A guest to every heart’s desire,
And now he’s naught at all.
Old papers thrown away,
Old garments cast aside,
The talk of yesterday,
All things identified;
But times once torn away
No voices can recall:
The eve of New Year’s Day
Left the Old Year lost to all.
~ John Clare (1793-1864), English Romantic poet
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1 comment:
That's a different sentiment than we see in most New Year's poems! What theme do you have for us in January, Maria?
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