First, a word. I want you to know I’m not apathetic, callous, or insensitive to real events happening right now. My soul bleeds. May God save us and bring an end to the distress. I hope you enjoy NAOMI’s poem:
Burning the Old Year
::SHARE::
Letters swallow themselves in seconds.
Notes friends tied to the doorknob,
transparent scarlet paper,
sizzle like moth wings,
marry the air.
So much of any year is flammable,
lists of vegetables, partial poems.
Orange swirling flame of days,
so little is a stone.
Where there was something and suddenly isn’t,
an absence shouts, celebrates, leaves a space.
I begin again with the smallest numbers.
Quick dance, shuffle of losses and leaves,
only the things I didn’t do
crackle after the blazing dies.
Copyright Credit: Naomi Shihab Nye, “Burning the Old Year” from Words Under the Words: Selected Poems (Portland, Oregon: Far Corner Books, 1995). Copyright © 1995 by Naomi Shihab Nye. Reprinted with the permission of the author.
Source: Words Under the Words: Selected Poems (Far Corner Books, 1995)
MY SOURCE Poetry Foundation Org.
I trust you enjoyed the poem. May your days be joyous. Bless you.
- From Poetry Foundation: A Poem - January 11, 2025
- Haiku: Audacity Prayer - January 10, 2025
- Nature Ways #dVerse - January 9, 2025
Nye is one of my favorite poets. This past November, I had the good fortune to hear her read her poems in person and listen to her words of wisdom.
Hey Kathryn. Thanks for the most loveliest of cards. 🎄 🥹
I like her more and more with every reading. You’re so lucky to have met and heard her read her poems. What joy 🥹 so beautiful. Thanks for sharing that with me my friend. Bless you. 🤗
what a lovely poet
Thanks Beth. And thanks for not thinking the timing insensitive. I pray 🙏
I like her more and more with every reading. You’re so lucky to have met and heard her read her poems. What joy 🥹 so beautiful. Thanks for sharing that with me my friend. Bless you. 🤗
What a lovely poem.