Yearly Gratitude

Thank you yester

year of mine

for the rhythms and the rhyme

that you taught 

patiently caught

awry thoughts and lines

Thank you for the music and the sun

for the stillness and the run

that chased around a restless mind

calmed it, tamed it, set it on fire

and cooled it off again

Thank you for new friends and old

for the wishes and the hugs

for dirt under rugs

drunken dances, funny accents

wishful talks and determined plans

for meetings, separations

Christmas trees and Independence days

Thank you for the thankless jobs

woolen socks, 

ruthless bosses and weekends off

Salesmen Santas in shopping malls

Thank you yester

year of mine

for the very various smiles

heartbreaks and flimsy lies

that you caught

patiently taught

me life.