Resolving

On a night in the time of

Christmas, we sit after midnight in 

A room surrounded by the 

Belongings of our dead, 

And oh there is comfort

And the fire flickers messages

That all of those we know 

And cherish and pray for

See, in their fires.

Still,

There is no 

Special message, save in

This one, in this ending year:

My relatives, I pray for you,

I think upon your lives, and mine,

I join your hopes and your praying

And I too build my fires, 

And I too watch, as in this 

Eternal, everlasting flicker,

Pulling us all back to 

Essential,

Goodness and mercy,

Striving all the days of our lives,

We arrive here, 

Here in this 

New Year.