Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Year's End



"A year of ending and beginning, a year of loss and finding and all of you were with me through the storm. I drink your health, your wealth, your fortune for long years to come, and I hope for many more days in which we can gather like this. ~ C.J. Cherryh, Fortress of Eagles


Capricorn zodiac sign, Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, India.jpg
Capricorn zodiac sign, Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, India. 18th century CE.
Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~ Oprah Winfrey

Midweek Motif ~ Year's End



I nearly left out the apostrophe to speak of Years Ends, but decided to stick with 2019, this year's end, full of trouble and joy, suspense and certainty.  

Perhaps you will use your new poem to record the details.  Perhaps you will use it to spread cheer and blessings.  Perhaps you will write an ode to rest, and its role in creativity.  

Your Challenge: Let's write to each other in this new poem about the end of 2019.


File:Bouquet de roses Suzanne Valadon.jpg
Bouquet de roses by Suzanne Valadon (1936)

 Year's End
  by Ted Kooser

Now the seasons are closing their files
on each of us, the heavy drawers
full of certificates rolling back
into the tree trunks, a few old papers
flocking away. Someone we loved
has fallen from our thoughts,
making a little, glittering splash
like a bicycle pushed by a breeze.
Otherwise, not much has happened;
we fell in love again, finding
that one red feather on the wind.

I’ve hit the bottom
of my bag of discretion:
year’s end.
English version by Lucien Stryk and Takashi Ikemoto

Year’s end,
all corners
of this floating world, swept.


  The Year (1910)                        

          by Ella Wheeler Wilcox                                   

What can be said in New Year rhymes,
That’s not been said a thousand times?
The new years come, the old years go,
We know we dream, we dream we know.
We rise up laughing with the light,
We lie down weeping with the night.
We hug the world until it stings,
We curse it then and sigh for wings.
We live, we love, we woo, we wed,
We wreathe our brides, we sheet our dead.
We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,
And that’s the burden of the year.
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.


"Songs to aging children come / This is one"

Lyrics are HERE
~~~~~

Please share your new poem using Mr. Linky below 
and visit others in the spirit of the community—

Best wishes for this year's end and the new years to come!


20 comments:

  1. Good Morning, Poets United! I had planned to be on time for my last prompt here, but why should today be any different? It's a gorgeous day just south of Philadelphia where I live. I hope it is so where you are as well--neither too hot nor too cold. Have a lovely day!

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    1. Another wonderful Midweek Motif, Susan. Still can't believe it's the final one. The year here ends in beauty of course with all the amazing words and poems. A beautiful selection, as always.

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  2. Good morning, everyone! I will be back later to read and post.

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  3. Thank you, Susan, for all of your wonderful prompts (and poetry) over the years!! You have shown your creativity in so many ways - in inspiring others and in writing inspired poems yourself!

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  4. A wonderful prompt, Susan. Yes, thank you for your dedication and inspiration through the years. I will be back later with a poem and to read.

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  5. Hey poets! Please let me know if you are unable to post. I have had no trouble and would be happy to put in your link for you. So far, it's only members of the PU team that have been unable to post, but who knows? They may only be the ones ABLE to let me know via email. You can reach me here.

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  6. Thank you Susan, you gave so very much for us here. Thank you too for the Ted Kooser poem. His book, "The Poetry Home Repair Manual: Practical Advice For Beginning Poets (2005)" has been my learning guide since I started writing again. I need to dig on the Prose Poetry section as I quit it after studying a few pages of that section. Mine don't compete.
    I also have another of his books, "Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps (2004)," which is about living in the Platte River area between Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska. I grew up a few miles from there, his home now.
    Please stay around even though you are leaving the Midweek. You have also been a nice encourager and helper.
    I am on a writing Sabbatical until January 11 although I've sneaked a few pieces for the Toads and am finishing the year's weekly write on my other blog, right now a meme format.
    Oh yes, our temperature here was 85 today and 80 this night.
    ..

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the details about Tim. I found his poem on a blog and thought it perfect for the prompt. I hope he won't mind that I posted it here. I trust your Sabbatical has been productive, Jim.

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  7. Susan, Mr. Linky won't let me post my poem. Her is the link.

    https://confessionsofalaundrygoddess.blogspot.com/2019/12/breathing-into-january.html

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  8. Thank you for your inspiring prompt. I didn't have problem posting, but the site answers really slow, had to be patient with every step, maybe that's one of the problems...

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    1. Hmm. Sorry to hear that the site is plodding. We'll look into it.

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  9. I am still having issues with this site. It even takes me a long time to come and look at comments....with all the glitches. I cannot go through and comment on a lot of the poetry really, the way the site is acting. Someone named "Jenna" commented on mine, and I would like to return the favor. None of the posted names are a "Jenna," so I am sorry but I can't figure out whose blog in the list I should try to comment on. Sigh.

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  10. It's been quite a ride, folks. I'll be riding in a different way in 2020. See you then! Happy Solstice, dear poets. From here on in, the light returns.

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  11. Very Late...but could not leave midweek motif without saying goodbye to you Susan. Thank you for all your effort and interesting prompts over the years.Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Rall. Your participation always added spice to the creativity.

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  12. Great to share my year end poem! Thanks Susan!
    happy New Year in advance, everyone!

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