For the New Year

December 31, 2018

Amidst all the noise, this quiet welcome.

TO THE NEW YEAR
W. S. Merwin

With what stillness at last
you appear in the valley
your first sunlight reaching down
to touch the tips of a few
high leaves that do not stir
as though they had not noticed
and did not know you at all
then the voice of a dove calls
from far away in itself
to the hush of the morning

so this is the sound of you
here and now whether or not
anyone hears it this is
where we have come with our age
our knowledge such as it is
and our hopes such as they are
invisible before us
untouched and still possible

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6 Comments

  • Reply Fredric Koeppel January 1, 2019 at 11:24 am

    Thank you, my friend. I hope 2019 brings you success, happiness, quiet and freedom from worry.

    • Reply sharonbryanpoet January 1, 2019 at 4:07 pm

      Thanks, Fred. I’m grateful to be in touch with you, here and on facebook.

  • Reply John Reed January 1, 2019 at 1:16 pm

    Thank you for this. It seems perfectly situated on the precipice, if you will, of our hopes and fears, political and otherwise, for 2019.

    • Reply sharonbryanpoet January 1, 2019 at 4:08 pm

      Hey, John, it’s great to hear from you. How are you? I hope 2019 is good to you.

  • Reply Ernest Hebert January 1, 2019 at 3:58 pm

    Thanks for Merwin poem, Sharon, and for your wonderful blog/website. I look forward to your posts.

    • Reply sharonbryanpoet January 1, 2019 at 4:09 pm

      Hi Ernie. I have such good memories of our conversations when I was at Dartmouth. I do miss tea and the green lamps, too.

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