New Year's Perspective

New Year’s 2004


Friendships sometimes hidden, surface at dinner
an elegant place, embroidered linens, warm soup
laughter, tears and camera flashing, we’ve come
to celebrate the New Year.

twisted steel, battered homes and shattered lives
victims of the earthquake begin to leave
a city destroyed after two thousand years

Suburban home, kitchen fire glowing, platters upon
platters of desserts spread among a dozen or so
truffles, cheese, berries and cherries piled high
glasses overflowing with Dom Perignon.

a new orphan looks around the barren ground
a hungry child’s face filled with pain
faces flashed across the screen

It’s almost time the countdown begins
ten, nine, eight, soon the ball will drop
away from the platters and up from the chairs
people gather around to welcome the year.

far away, another bomb, another life
an empty bed, a missing grown child,
a parent who won’t return, war

A kiss, a hug, Happy New Year,
lovers embrace, friends wish cheer
who’s left to say thank you
to drop to their knees?

one of us, one of them
humanity strives to understand
pray for peace, reach out your hand


JoAnn Hertz

"Blog note: This was a poem e-mailed from one of the readers who relocated here from NY. This, despite my initial impression, is not about 9/11. I think we all share a wish for world peace for the New Year."