Sunset at Lake Martin, photographed by Leon Henry.
My pipe is out, my glass is dry;
My fire is almost ashes too;
But once again, before you go,
And I prepare to meet the New:
Old Year! a parting word that’s true,
For we’ve been comrades, you and I —
I thank God for each day of you;
There! bless you now! Old Year, good-bye!
–Robert William Service, The Passing of the Year
I thank God for each day of 2012. But today, I say hello to 2013.
Last night as I was drifting off to sleep with the pop, bang, boom of our neighbor’s fireworks, I was thinking about the night creatures. What do they think about this silly human tradition of setting fire to the sky at night?
Where do the owls go
when you set the sky on fire
with your loud, booming works?
Drowning out the who of my nighttime friend,
you celebrate intolerably, sending flares,
screaming as if chased by a bee.
This noise just can’t be right.
Where did the owls go tonight?
Read other Slice of Life writers at The Two Writing Teachers
Over at Two Writing Teachers, New Year’s Day Slices of Life are being collected. We have been challenged not to set New Year’s resolutions, but to select One Little Word to live by this year. This has been a challenge for me because it’s not really a word that I want, but an attitude. I want to value my work, whatever that work may be. I want to see it as significant to the greater good. But I want to be gentle with myself at the same time. So this year, my one little word is acceptance.
In William Zinsser’s book On Writing Well, he speaks of the audience for your writing: “It is a fundamental question with a fundamental answer; you are writing for yourself. Entertain yourself. You are who you are, so relax and say what you want to say.” So, to whoever is reading today, I am here on Jan. 1, 2013 to declare a new attitude. Acceptance!
Reflections on the Teche 
I love that you thought of the night creatures!
So glad you’re partaking in OLW and the SOLSC!
Happy 2013!
I have never commented this way. You know, of course, that I endorse the word you have chosen. Acceptance isn’t only the best way to consider our writing. It is the best way to handle all our work. Praise and fame are fleeting; they can never be enough. Do what you love to do for itself. Love you.
Beautiful, Margaret. I’m happy to hear both the poems, by Service (ever to the point) & about your surroundings. It seems very beautiful where you live, & inspiring too. Thanks for thinking of the owls! And Happy New Year!
Acceptance is a stong word and will lead you far through 2013. Lovely photo and poems.
Happy New Year!
Beautiful photographs….and I came around to acceptance as my OWL too! Happy New Year!
Today when I was thinking about my word, I could only think about acceptance as action, and thus ended up choosing a different word. You showed a different way–acceptance as an attitude!
I love the perspective of your poem. Very clever.
Thank you for sharing the Zinnser quote. I’m writing it down right now.
Ruth
I love your poem! Giving voice to things that don’t have one or one we understand in some cases…Thanks for inviting me to participate in poetry Fridays…I might try it…but it’s all about balance you see!
I like your attitude of acceptance-also that it speaks to developing an inviting writing voice (knowing your inner voice)!
Happy New Year-and thank you always for your encouraging words!