Welcoming Poetry Friday, this last one of the year, with a simple adieu to 2017 and a humble hello to 2018–with a tanka and a poem by W. S. Merwin, To The New Year.
BID FAREWELL OLD YEAR
Look upon me in
your evening winter sky,
My haloed arc paints
a slivered picture across
December’s waning days.
Bid farewell old year,
your times sifting away.
Carry my glowing
light forward, caress your
New Year with heartfelt Peace!
© 2017 Michelle Kogan
TO THE NEW YEAR
By W. S. Merwin
With what stillness at last
you appear in the valley
your first sunlight reaching down
to touch the tips of a few
high leaves that do not stir
as though they had not noticed
and did not know you at all
then the voice of a dove calls
from far away in itself
to the hush of the morning
Read the rest of the poem at the Poetry Foundation.
Stop by Heidi Mordhorst’s blog my juicy little universe for this weeks Poetry Friday Roundup. She’s offering four beautiful and sensitive poems to leave the year with, Thanks Heidi for hosting this week.
Happy New Year to All!
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Lovely simple painting, Michelle, as always. Nice muted color scheme, and lovely poem as well. How do you get those flurries to fall across your painting, I wonder
Aren’t the flurries the icing on the cake–they are lovely this time of year, thanks B.J.!
Lovely poem 😊
Happy New Year!
Thanks Rhonda, and the Happiest of New Years to you too! xo
My haloed arc paints
a slivered picture across
December’s waning days.
Lovely, Michelle. Happy painting and poetry in 2018!
Thanks Diane!
A very happy new year to you as well, filled with poetry and inspiration!
Thanks Jane, and yes to the inspiration!
What beautiful poems, Michelle, and your painting is the perfect accompaniment! I, too, love the lines,
My haloed arc paints
a slivered picture across
December’s waning days.
Wishing you a wonderful year!
Thanks Molly, sending light from the crescent moon your way!
Beautiful….look upon me…..a gorgeous invitation.
Happy New Year to you! I love your illustration and I imagine the city is our world and that peace will find a place to light.
Thanks Linda-yes let’s help peace find her place in the light, Happy New Year!
During this week of frigid temps, your lovely art and words brought warmth and comfort. Wishing you the happiest of new years!
Thanks Christie-Sure is s cold New Years, I’m happy it’s spreading warmth, Cheers!
Thanks for all your support of poetry and painting and being a thinker this year. Happy New Year!
And thanks back to you Margaret. Here’s to more poetry, Art, and thinking in our New Year, Cheers!
This post is filled with such peace. I want to stop and drink in the sights and sounds as one year passes into another. May your dove of peace bring much peace to this coming year. Happy New Year to you and yours!
Thanks Kay, I hope to catch a ride on her tail feathers into the New Year, Happy 2018!
I love your use of yellow to make the moon come alive and touch the buildings, bird and tree. Your paintings are always so restrained and dear. The poetry is lovely, too. Icing on the cake. A delicious post.
Thanks for your delicious comment, I’ll savor it into the New Year – enjoy the New Year ‘s 🌕 Cheers!
You also. XOXO
What a beautiful way to begin my Poetry Friday reading–with this lovely painting and thoughtful poetry. Yes, we want that dove of peace flying into our 2018. All the best to you in the new year, Michelle!
Thanks Violet, and back to you with lots of your lovely Poetry for 2018, Cheers!
As year 2017 “sifts” away, wishing you a very happy 2018, Michelle! Love your poems shared and that lovely painting.
Thanks Linda, and Happy 2018 to you too!
Such a lovely post, and I love that it is full of possibility! Happy New Year, Michelle!
Thanks Catherine and Happy New Year to you too, with many “possibilities,” Cheers!
Michelle, another stunning combination. These words resonant in the latter poem:
and our hopes such as they are
invisible before us
untouched and still possible
Since hope is my #oneword for 2018, Merwin’s poem touched me.
Your evening sky image paints a beautiful introduction to your poem. Please send me the combination for my winter gallery, #WinterWonderland18❄️.
Thanks Carol-Hope-a powerful word, let’s hope we never loose sight of it, Cheers!
Words and images combine so seamlessly in your post Michelle. The idea that as this year wanes it is charged with carrying promise forward stands out for me
‘Carry my glowing
light forward, caress your
New Year with heartfelt Peace!’
The imagery is strong in your words. Enjoyed this visit very much.
Thanks Alan, glad you stopped by. Imagery moves freely between my writing and art, and is welcome traveler.
We’re both looking for stillness in the New Year! Your painting and your words bring it, along with positivity!
Perhaps we can climb into the painting for a spell and come out when we are ready. Happy New Year Heidi!
Yes, let us carry our glowing lights forward!
I ‘m ready, let’s follow the full Moon 🌕 tonight, Cheers!
I love the painting, Michelle, and the accompanying poem is just lovely! Thanks for this gentle ushering into the new year!
Thanks Renée, perhaps the ride won’t be as bumpy this year-but we’ll be ready with our words (and brush) whatever may come. Cheers!
Beautiful work! Your gentle poem softly welcomes us into the new year.
Thanks Keisha, as do your poems, Cheers!
Perfect poems to share, Michelle – yours especially is a great way to ease into this new dawn of possibilities!
Thanks Matt, yes easing in–a good way to put it!