new year's eve

new year's eve

Eyes, greedy with expectation
Hopeful hearts, in anticipation
What will the days ahead bring?

Breaking out bottles,

Laughter in wounded places

Some, surrounded by familiar faces

Some, discovering how to make home out of unknown lands

Hearts mended by the liquor 

Only to later feel sicker

Lovers locking lips

Filled with gratitude and passion

Ex-lovers running away to others to dull their pain

Strangers sharing smiles

Nodding in each other’s direction

One, looks to the left and the right 

Sees a quiet, empty void

Unread books, empty walls

Unfilled notebooks

Undefined expectations

A shiny, gym membership card

The meal plan typed out

The pinterest board of homemaking inspirations

One, for the first time

Truly lets down her guard

One, chugs a beer and says, “good riddance” to the previous year

One, sets down roots in a place he’s never been

Grief, joy, longing and hope

All intermingle in the minds and hearts of humankind

Within the hours before that clock at midnight strikes