January 1, 2020

New Year Resolve



New Year Resolve
by May Sarton

The time has come
To stop allowing the clutter
To clutter my mind
Like dirty snow,
Shove it off and find
Clear time, clear water.

Time for a change,
Let silence in like a cat
Who has sat at my door
Neither wild nor strange
Hoping for food from my store
And shivering on the mat.

Let silence in.
She will rarely speak or mew,
She will sleep on my bed
And all I have ever been
Either false or true
Will live again in my head.

For it is now or not
As old age silts the stream,
To shove away the clutter,
To untie every knot,
To take the time to dream,
To come back to still water.

"New Year Resolve" by May Sarton, from Collected Poems 1930-1993.

13 comments:

  1. Perfect poem for the new year! Happy 2020, Les.

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  2. What a wonderful poem for the New Year! I hope your New Year is full of health, happiness, amazing travels, and lots of books! (and perhaps a lunch or two in McMinnville!)

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    1. Thanks, Robin. I can't remember where/when I first discovered this poem - probably on someone's blog last year! Yes, let's try for another lunch (or two) in McMinnville. Kay is coming back this summer, so we'll have to plan a time where the three of us can meet up again. Happy New Year, dear friend!

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    2. Please, please plan a time when we can all get together!! Such a fun lunch we had and we could do another. Oh, and Les, I love the poem!

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    3. Absolutely, Kay! It's on my To Do list for your visit. :)

      You can thank Nan for the poem. I found it on her blog a few years ago. I love it, too.

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    4. Yes! It will be wonderful to meet up again!

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  3. I put this up in 2015! https://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2015/01/todays-poem-by-may-sarton.html

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    1. Ahha! That's probably where I first saw it. :)

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  4. Thank you for sharing this! I love it. Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

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    1. Thanks, Iliana. I just learned that I first saw this poem on Nan's blog a few years ago. I love it. Happy New Year!

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  5. What a wonderful poem! Thanks for bringing it to my attention!

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    1. Thank you! I first discovered it on Nan's blog and it really spoke to me.

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