Poems (Jackson)/New Year's Morning
NLY a night from old to new!Only a night, and so much wrought!The Old Year's heart all weary grew,But said: "The New Year rest has brought."The Old Year's heart its hopes laid down,As in a grave; but, trusting, said:"The blossoms of the New Year's crownBloom from the ashes of the dead."The Old Year's heart was full of greed;With selfishness it longed and ached,And cried: "I have not half I need.My thirst is bitter and unslaked.But to the New Year's generous handAll gifts in plenty shall return;True loving it shall understand;By all my failures it shall learn.I have been reckless; it shall beQuiet and calm and pure of life,I was a slave; it shall go free,And find sweet peace where I leave strife."Only a night from old to new!Never a night such changes brought.The Old Year had its work to do;No New Year miracles are wrought.
NEW YEAR'S MORNING.
NLY a night from old to new!Only a night, and so much wrought!The Old Year's heart all weary grew,But said: "The New Year rest has brought."The Old Year's heart its hopes laid down,As in a grave; but, trusting, said:"The blossoms of the New Year's crownBloom from the ashes of the dead."The Old Year's heart was full of greed;With selfishness it longed and ached,And cried: "I have not half I need.My thirst is bitter and unslaked.But to the New Year's generous handAll gifts in plenty shall return;True loving it shall understand;By all my failures it shall learn.I have been reckless; it shall beQuiet and calm and pure of life,I was a slave; it shall go free,And find sweet peace where I leave strife."Only a night from old to new!Never a night such changes brought.The Old Year had its work to do;No New Year miracles are wrought.Always a night from old to new!Night and the healing balm of sleep!Each morn is New Year's morn come true,Morn of a festival to keep. All nights are sacred nights to makeConfession and resolve and prayer;All days are sacred days to wakeNew gladness in the sunny air.Only a night from old to new;Only a sleep from night to morn.The new is but the old come true;Each sunrise sees a new year born.