New Year's Resolution [poem]

New Year's Resolution

your brother was there

but you were nowhere

to be seen

the hour of nine

your usual arrival time

long anticipated

came and went

my heart sank

yet my hopes

were soaring high

quarter past

half past

and still no sign

I didn't see you enter

I just looked up later

and you were there

in the flesh

though pale and gaunt

eyes rimmed

as if with violet eye-shadow

the deep bruising

of sleep deprivation

or alcohol abuse

sitting on a stool

at the edge of the circle

of friends

more like acquaintances

they made no attempt to

draw you into

their conversation

their laughter

I noticed you smiled wanly

laughed once or twice

half-heartedly

lost and alone

like so many urbanites

in crowded places

I wanted to come over

and give you a hug

tell you that you're loved

but ever conscious of your

fragile machismo

the barrier to my

soothing your ego

I remained at a distance

one of these days

I will make you happy

or at least I would try

if you'd let me

*

I have made no resolutions for 2017: my declining cognitive abilities combined with physical atrophying militates against expectations of much more than attempting to survive with a smile upon my visage.

My annual tradition, however, is that the first blog-post of each year is a poem. I could see no reason not to continue with same. I considered posting a poem about partying. However, given the past year, I considered that something a tad more subdued to be appropriate.

Wishing all my readers, occasional or returning, the very best in all your endeavours in the year ahead; happy New Year one & all!