newly

I’ve been drafting for hours
and keep coming
back
to something like this

the Earth tilts
as it tilts
and we may claim distinction
of
the days

this
season counted
for example
is the new year for the church
having
started some days
ago

other years have begun
and others will begin
with
the world’s big one
or big night for
it
coming
in some
weeks

sip
of champagne at midnight
all I need
(sorry)

all
these beginnings
and often
we’re glad
maybe relieved
to close what has gone on before
behind
       locked
       what our psychologies
       might need

but this is time
and
our inventions
and they’re interesting
(time
and
inventions)
anthropologies for an Anthropocene
age

and as we have new starts
what shall we count
anew
and could it be

unusual
as in
say
feeding the whole world as it can
be fed
by all of us

say
if most of the Earth’s children
might not have to go to bed
when hungry

and
the world might have safe water
and actively believe
in
the elimination
of
diseases

maybe we could say
like beginning at a crossroads
as at railroad Xes
(if
trite)
to stop
look
and listen
then when all clear move along
and
having stopped to get
to know
to hear
we might go in clarity as well as
specificity to help

roofs for homes for
all
some real
open moves toward peace
that don’t involve threatening
so
much
or
even victory

then there’s the chance
to learn
secured for all
maybe
at any are

and
I keep drafting about new years
and seasons
and
keep returning to the theme
of need and meeting
need
which is its thesis
too
and could be our own

a direction
an action plan
what have you
for
counting
uncounting new years
and
all the seasons
all of this the time
to help

I guess that’s all

except
to say
yes
we’ll make mistakes
but we’ll be
building
rather than hoarding or tearing
down

c l couch


photo by Ravi Kumar on Unsplash