**the front door opens
and the old year slips out
through a back window**
Standing in line with my family at a shrine today, under the twisted branches of tall pine trees and the eaves of an old wooden building, alarms started going off all around me. Shortly after, a long, rolling 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck.
What a way to start the year. It was almost as if the gods had heard someone’s prayer and given a sign that it was granted.
With that, I leave you with the first poem of 2024 and the last of 2023.
Happy New Year to all!!!
**(1)**
Not turkey, beef, or ham,
it’s Kentucky Fried Chicken,
Christmas in Japan.
**(2)**
as soon as it leaves
it begins its return
the darkest day
**(3)**
through patterns of frost
dawn’s light dances
on my window
**(4)**
the clouds talk about free will
and the wind listens
**(5)**
what a delight
the warmth of my own breath
on this frigid night
**(6)**
outside looking in
warm hotel windows
my breath hangs in the air
**(7)**
today
we say goodbye
and you become the past
**As always, thank you for reading.**
*All feedback, thoughts, suggestions, criticisms, etc. are welcome.*