this year that comes, 2023 is a new one. it will be the seventh after 2016, which means nothing, unless it does.

i wish for you a good year, a year worth of existing.

may you find the magic lamp,

may you need not lick a stamp

may your carpet never fray,

as it flies, and you convey

may you not find an infestation,

may there be no ulceration,

may the malignancy decline,

may you drink some good mulled wine.

may the soap larder with suds,

may you get some rosmary'd spuds,

may the meat cook soft and dainty,

may the teeth be chewing plenty,

may your enemy's car break,

may they freeze upon a lake,

may they shivver, and regret,

all the vileness that out they met,

may the bliss, fall on you, thick,

may you learn a cool card trick,

may your shirt be blemish save,

take posession of a cave,

may you find inside much gold

may you get over that foul cold,

may you sing and dance with joy,

may you find henchmen to employ,

worthy they, i hope, and true,

as you vacation in Tuvalu,

sunny beaches, tropic fruit,

and you shun the business suit,

may your taxes be rebated,

as you deserve this harsh, abated,

may your lips be moist and squeeze,

over someone, who you please,

may no sand from beach inflame,

and you win at every game.

lastly, it is so, my deepest urge

that the last years bad, doth purge.

and with dextrous words you write

your next year to be, be bright.

Look at you

you grew and grew!

So upon tip-toe

get close to my ear

for I only wish to stand

as tall as I can.

Hearing your cheer

revs up my gears

And the weight of my many years disappears!

Lots of bad news happened all over the world this year.

Turn on the news

somehow, it's chock-full of it.

But to you, my dear friend,

though unbeknownst to me

is what's ahead,

even for this year.

Still, my wish to you is that

you'll be happy, safe, blessed.

I pray for your health...

spiritual, emotional and physical

prosperity, and that you show

care to those who need the

love in you this new year.

Just as God loves you,

you show love to others

and please, my friend, keep well.

Alone

There is Christmas

in the City is

not my room of empty no

bits in my life moths in dying wax

empty is celebrating

its lonely deaf of nothing

me left with me

alone

freezing in the nothingness

To y'all and to all our fellow travelers on this journey - I sincerely from the bottom of my heart hope, wish and pray for all to have an amazing 2023.

May y'all walk in good health and happiness. May goodness and tender mercies line your paths. We have experienced a time like no other and during these pandemic years we have all gone through so much. May our days ahead be brighter.

Let our beings be filled with empathy, kindness, respect for others and let us respect our self and our abilities. May hearts not hold a grudge but offer forgiveness....may we go that extra mile for others. If we ask ourselves have we grown as a citizen not just of our country but of the world...have we done something to give back to make a difference - and I believe we have - may we continue to hold on and build upon the foundation we have started. Our work is certainly cut out for us. So many wrongs in society that need to be changed. I believe we are up to that task.

To the amazing people here, I thank you. I thank you for sharing your talents. Your words - your very voice is precious. The word is so powerful y'all come here with the amazing ability to create laughter, touch one's heart moving one to tears. They also have the capacity and depth to make one think by considering and understanding the different views we all have. The power of the word in y'all is beautiful. Write on. May your pen hold power and joy. Thank y'all. Happy New Years!