December 29: Hopes for the New Year, W. S. Merwin, "To the New Year"

I have hopes for the New Year.  I hope for health and happiness.  For the safety and happiness of my wife and children and friends.  Success in my writing and work and teaching.  Cheesecake.  I hope for cheesecake.  And maybe a few good poems.

Saint Marty wishes for running water and little snow tomorrow morning.

To the New Year

by:  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