New Year’s Day

Let a first night sleep away the last

before we flounder in pools of unknowing

vast as the year is deep, top waters fast

over shadows dropping to their full past.

Let, there on every mere’s outer, a wind flick

ripples to raging waves churning

thick, debrised sludge caught in the slick

of water-thrash pounding to scrape, scouring quick.

Let there be sediment drifting calm to the base,

waters filtering clear in their sluicing

chase through reed roots to the milfoil’s place

where their lick and lapping fillip a fronding trace.

Let there be light through each quiet lake

stippling down to the perch in its flickering

shake on a gulp of minnow, the gone fry’s wake.

Let there be light when all days break.

Let there be light.