Brand New Year, Same Old Me
Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?
The suite of days temper
my sweetness with the wash
of slow regreening by the highway.
I’m not sure what to say
about sameness—about something
like the sun juicing itself anew
against the treeline each night
behind the buildings where I live—
where you used to live. I sit
in shadow and I do not mourn
light here—you and then and winter
all away, away from me.
all away, away from me.
Northbound, southbound, and scared
to death of change: the empty-
and-refill of the Kentucky River
and its occluded, siltened waters.
14 thoughts on "Brand New Year, Same Old Me"
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The heavy inertia of emotional stagnation against the relentless turning of the time and seasons. Wow, Shaun. This is a good one! Thank you for sharing.
This line is exquisite
‘the sun juicing itself anew
against the treeline each night’
Love, love, love: “like the sun juicing itself anew/against the treeline each night”
Me too!
I love the way you weave emotional power through place.
“my sweetness with the wash
of slow regreening by the highway.”– this line is tender and hopeful.
I love how I forget I’m reading a poet I know when I read many of your pieces, Shaun.
I feel like I’m in a college lit class.
I third the “juicing itself, anew/against the treeline”
And also offer, “the empty-/and-refill of the Kentucky River”
lot of good lines, and complex emotion
With the introduction of “you”
I can’t help but the take the poem personally
and am touched by the poet’s
sweetness introduced in the third line
I like the juxtaposition of stillness and motion in this poem. Very well done, Shaun!
You are such a brilliant poet, Shaun! Your sounds and use of enjambment – and the images you paint – just wow me.
Brilliantly understated.
“occluded, siltened waters”—woo buddy—that’s an ending
Enjoy the contrast of motion against stillness, and the emotion conveyed throughout. Love the play of “suite” and “sweetness” and the stunning ending:
the empty-
and-refill of the Kentucky River
and its occluded, siltened waters.
You teach me about what poetry is and can be when I read your poems.
I echo Ann. Thank you, Shaun.