Thursday, December 31, 2020

The Old Year



The Old Year 


The Old Year’s gone away
To nothingness and night:
We cannot find him all the day
Nor hear him in the night:
He left no footstep, mark or place
In either shade or sun:
The last year he’d a neighbour’s face,
In this he’s known by none.

All nothing everywhere:
Mists we on mornings see
Have more of substance when they’re here
And more of form than he.
He was a friend by every fire,
In every cot and hall–
A guest to every heart’s desire,
And now he’s nought at all.

Old papers thrown away,
Old garments cast aside,
The talk of yesterday,
Are things identified;
But time once torn away
No voices can recall:
The eve of New Year’s Day
Left the Old Year lost to all.


22 comments:

  1. ...this old year has lasted too long. I hope that you will have a healthy and bright 2021.

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  2. Wonderful poem. Happy New Year! Raising a glass to a vaccine for all & a healthy 2021.

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  3. Lovely words. I've never heard this poem before.

    Happy New Year to you xx

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    1. This poet appeals to me, and I don't generally care for poetry.

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  4. I don't think there will be much nostalgia for 2020, but it certainly will be a year that will never be forgotten.

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  5. This is a wonderful poem. If only we could totally leave covid behind too. Happy new year. Hope yours is a good one!

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    1. This year will be better for us all, surely :)

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  6. This is perfect for the end of 2020. I have so enjoyed your posts this year and have learned a lot about some movies and books. I look forward to see more in 2021. Wishing you all the very best for 2021. Much love my friend.

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  7. And don't let the door hit ya...lol! ;)

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  8. What a fabulous way to end 2020. I hope your new year is safe, healthy, and joyous, dear friend.

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    1. And for us all, though I'm thinking any change will come slowly.

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  9. Sometimes I think of New Years day as just a random day with little meaning. Other years it cause reflections on where I've been and where I'm going. Wishing you a safe and healthy year.

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    1. It doesn't mark such a definite point anymore for me. Not like when I was young and school semesters were a part of my life. Last night we watched the 2nd and 3rd Pirates of the Caribbean films (having watched the 1st one the night before). The excitement of marking that midnight point has paled a bit through the years, but we did stay up for it.

      I hope the same for you. Safe and healthy :)

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  10. I'm happy to leave the Old Year Lost to All!

    Happy New Year!

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    Replies
    1. That year's gone, but its effects will be lasting :(

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  11. Lovely poem! I don't usually celebrate New Year, but I'm inordinately happy to say goodbye to the last year this time around. Even if it's not more than just another new day.

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    1. The symbolic nature of saying goodbye to this year was helpful to a lot of us, I think, even though -as you say- there's not much change from the last day of one year to the first day of the next.

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