A Plea to the New Year
be gentle
We come to you
bruised and battered,
each of us, from our personal struggles,
which are legion,
and from two years of pandemic,
plus an insurrection — although only some
call it that —
from deep divisions within families
and violence,
from guns in schools, and everywhere else, really,
and peaceful protests that ended
in flames.
We are more tired than most language
has words for
and we are rich with loss.
If you cannot heal us
we understand.
At the least, please do not raise
our hopes — at all, about anything —
only to crush them.
We would like the return of precedented times.
— January 6, 2022
Dedication
First and foremost, this is dedicated to my son who turns 15 years old today. Kayden, you are so loved and valued. You are stronger than you know, and stronger than I wish you had to be.
But this is also dedicated to all of us who escaped 2020 barely scathed, those of us who greeted the new year with relief and hope. For a few days at least. As we limp across another arbitrary finish line into another 365 days, I wish for us: quiet. I wish for us healing and peace, but mostly…. quiet.
The bar is low. Here’s to not tripping on it.
