Poem of the Month: January 2004

i am running into a new year
and the old years blow back
like a wind
that I catch in my hair
like strong fingers like
all my old promises and
it will be hard to let go
of what I said to myself
about myself
when I was sixteen and
twentysix and thirtysix
even fortysix but
i am running into a new year
and I beg what I love and
i leave to forgive me

- Lucille Clifton

Journal prompts:

• What greets you as you "run into" 2004?  Write out your goals and visions for the year.
  
  
• Reflect back on a decade ago, then two decades ago.  What were you "running into" then?  What was compelling to you?  Does what drew you then still attract you now?
  
  
• Consider the closing lines, "and I beg what I love and I leave/ to forgive me".  What of 2003 (or 1993, or 1983) must be left behind to make room for 2004?