Just as Cinderella escaping the ball,
we all respond to the call of midnight
As next year comes into sight,
we chill the drinks and prepare to chill together
Sheltering from the weather,
whether our burdens are heavy or light as a feather,
finding shelter, both from outside and the storms in our lives,
The ones that beat us down throughout this year.
We’ll gather near the people we enjoy,
employing tactics that make everything seem light.
“The future is bright!” We will say with smiles,
and miles of streamers burst at 12 o’ clock
Then like rocks we’ll collapse into beds
we’ve made the year before.
Waves of time crashing on the shore,
we fall asleep realizing they call out for something more.
Inspirational memes with quotes that seem as thin
as ice in Florida,
As if someone has wiped the scales from your eyes,
you realize:
The skies are beautiful,
but don’t determine if today will be good or not
The plot is not written in stone, not even etched in concrete
And your feet are still incredibly useful for deciding where to go
But you have to do more than know.
Have to do more than show enthusiasm or desire.
You might have to put yourself out on a wire.
The entire year ahead can be influenced by a single decision
A moment where you choose to ignite the change, it feels strange,
Because our world encourages so much feeling,
to see the ceiling and realize your wings are meant for more.
Meant to soar, and explore the unknown heights, beyond childish kites,
Or exercise the powerful control of someone
who chooses not to fly at the moment.
Because you know how needed you are along the ground.
As you have found,
that wings grow stronger when restrained to serve others.
Like sisters and brothers, recognizing we’re not meant for competition,
This mission is not impossible, when our strength is found in numbers,
Coming together with old and newcomers
To this stage called life,
and right in the middle of what you thought was simply going to be –
Can be directly influenced by something you choose to do,
choose to believe, choose to wait,
choose to say no to fate, choose not to berate, choose to hope,
choose to live, choose to forgive, choose life,
choose to fight for what’s right, choose to welcome,
choose to breathe slow, and know –
there are more seeds to sow.
And as you plow each row, preparing what will come,
you’ve grown less numb
To feeling more alive.
Waking those in comas around you, you point out the seeds in their hand,
and together stand in the face of unknown tomorrows,
and breathe.
Tomorrow may be
joy or pain, sunshine or rain,
but both have ways of serving the seed.
Serving what will grow.
As we flow into the new year,
the words you’ve heard start demanding:
What are you planting?
words from wick 