Dear Readers of These Poems,
This New Year’s eve
while we are trepidatious
and nervous
war and more war
politics and uncertainty
when we argue with one another
about more or less everything
should women presidents of prestigious
universities be fired for what they
did or didn’t say will there be a fair
outcome for the horrible Israel/Gaza story
is Colorado and Maine a good or bad
move for the upcoming election
now we even argue about whether
Maestro was a good depiction
of Leonard Bernstein life continues
to be life big and small and I
think often about a man in
a zoom writing class, now in his nineties,
successful doctor
he still consults although he himself
is in a wheelchair, has many ongoing
medical problems he helped me late one night
by text to find an emergency colonoscopy
for a friend this man who has seen
so much celebrated his seventieth
wedding anniversary two weeks ago
went with his wife to their favorite Irish pub
where they both had fish and chips
as many beers as they could drink
he told us we should never forget
in the midst of all else that life
can still be good. Dear Readers
of these poems, I remain grateful
and happy in spite of everything else
that happens that we have one another,
and that life, sometimes
so painful and difficult,
can be unexpected and mysterious
so often surprising
if we remember
to listen, if we remember
to open the door.
great poem Esther! I just posted it on my facebook page but forgot to tag you- so much to learn, all the time! Happy New Year and See you soon!
What a wonderful poem. Happy and healthy New Year, Esther!