Dear Year...(or, Learning the Art of Good-bye)

Mostly you move me with beauty of duty

Morning-fresh splendor and twilight-plush sigh

You spell the words to my life-story, darling

Mostly with hugs of hello and good-bye

My, how the eye is a cup holding rivers

My, how the heart cradles what Past endears

Mostly you move me with common anointing

Where tick-tock offspring shapes Time into years

Mostly you move me with measure of moments

Who knew a lifetime could fit into this?

Hand-holding, foot-slipping, laughter-tear treasure

Learning the art of your double-edged kiss

Tell me again where you go and how, darling

Did we not meet just a short while or so?

Yet you are poised for eternal departing

My heart whispers ‘stay’ while Edict orders ‘go’

Mostly you move me with love’s longing sorrow

My, how tomorrow overtakes today

Moving the meter of ‘Time left remaining’

Near, ever nearer to that Far Away

Hold me close, darling, before you must journey

Into that land from which none can return

Mostly you move me with unuttered yearning

For that which somehow I cannot quite learn

© Janet Martin