[Getting back to my New Year’s Day tradition…]
As Artie said of a man who went away this year,
“You can be a positive ion or a negative ion and
I choose to be a positive.” In that vein, we say,
This year just ended did not disappoint.
For us the cheers outclassed the dour spirits
Rewards surpassed payment required
Delight outweighed distaste but most important
Love received overwhelmed all sadnesses.
Turn your eyes ahead and focus on that
Allegorical tree trunk spanning the chasm
Above the river of days and years yet to come and
Measure its diameter and strength and color.
Does the tree appear a bigger and healthier,
More substantial path across for you and yours
From this closer vantage point, than on
New Year’s Days in the past?
When you crane your neck out from our
Common past’s cliff and look down to the water
Is the River calm as a lazy August afternoon or
Raging like late April after a storm?
I know that seeing the rage is easier by far
Black skies and thunder near the horizon
Sharp rocks poking out of the frothy water
But is that the life you want for you and yours?
Obstacles and blind curves will surely come up
Bad news lurks in every conversation and news brief
Faults of the many outweighing the good of the few
Tempting you at all turns to the downward spiral.
And yet and still… I ask you to resist, even to struggle
Choose good and happiness and friendship and love
“Rage against the dying of the light” as Dylan urged–
See the bigger, healthier, beautiful bridge.
BillSaysThis 