Old Year/New Year

It's been a year of incredible loss.  The February fire took most all of my worldly goods and the life of one of the sweetest men I've ever known. I don't miss the things, but I do miss my friend.

I pulled an old poem from my archives which speaks to me now, as it did when I wrote it at another trying year's end many years ago. 

Old Year, New Year.

Old and gray – tired and worn

many died – more were born

much was said – so little done

with the rising and setting of each sun.

Farewell to thee with tears we say

and greet the new with laughter gay

So much could, should, would have done

but alas, I’d just begun and the year was gone.

And so, today I make firm resolution

to do much more by this year’s conclusion.

© Perle Champion

Homage

old and gray – tired and worn

many died – more were born

much was said – so little done

with the rising and setting of each sun.

farewell to thee with tears we say

and greet the new with laughter gay

so much could, should, would have done

alas, the year was gone and I’d just begun.

 

and so, I make firm resolution

to do much more by this new year’s conclusion.

© Perle Champion

 

Darkest Night Passed - Now which way do we go?

Longest night is behind us –Solstice celebrated. 

I lit a myriad of candles around the ladies on the hearth of my faux fireplace, nee altar.  I laid out a few fancy snacks on the coffee table: caviar, tapenade, mushroom pate, crackers and an iced bottle of champagne. 

I sat before the flames, sipped, and nibbled. I reflected on my 2010 with a pen upon my journal’s pages: reviewed my past, considered my present, and drafted my goals for 2011. I won’t finalize them until the new moon plus 1 - January 5^th.  
 
Just as people have planted by the phases of the moon, so I plant the seeds of my aspirations for 2011 for maximum growth. I consider myself an above ground crop best planted during a waxing moon.

The rough draft needs work, and I’ll hone it over the coming days. It’s a combination of goals and bucket list - Some are long range, some are short; some are serious and some not so serious.

With darkest night behind me, the almost imperceptible lengthening of days invigorates me.  It’s a heady feeling to visualize striding into the growing light and lengthening days of a new year knowing that each seed grows according to the care and attention I give it. 

I intend to tend this particular garden better than I did in 2010.


© Perle Champion