I am waiting for the "ball" to drop
as so many millions do
those standing in Times Square
closer to their neighbor than ever
thinking of the year in review
As if we could capsulate
our existence
in blocks of time
sublime in thought
that we humans are in control
but we will never know
our actual place
in this space
we call home
There are so many events
worth remembering
I daresay
I could list them all
I could start with Janet Jackson
and the Superbowl halftime show
I never saw
though the effects of the blanket
censorship
are now felt by us all
The dying soldiers in Iraq
are always on my mind
their lives on the line
for freedom
for people
who can't wait to kill them
we passed 1300 gone this Fall
I don't tune in to the
trials and tribulations
the documentations
of Hollywood's own
though I know more
of the oldtimers have passed this year
their spirits shall always live on
I can honor the Republican
Ronald Reagan
even though I don't
sing the same song
The election depressed me again
but my writing has progressed
I didn't get to China this summer
and suffered months of pneumonia
but my husbands and mine
love grew just the same
I could recount the hurricanes
but they seem so
small in comparison
to the wave
that took 160K
and counting
human souls lost
without recognition
of their name
Life will never be the same
I met my little brother Walter again
and lost him
my 17 year old sister
is pregnant
again
and the 15 year old
might be in school
but STILL
14 and a half years later
there is nothing I can do
my thoughts haunt me still
I couldn't ask for anything more
from 2004
I am a teacher at last
my bones have
soaked in my own
and made sure
my dreams would last
I've taken the best from all of my lives
and welcome wholeheartedly, 2005!
