This January First, invent the reality of your world

from “January First”

The year’s doors open
like those of language,
toward the unknown.
Last night you told me:             
tomorrow
we shall have to think up signs,
sketch a landscape, fabricate a plan
on the double page
of day and paper.
Tomorrow, we shall have to invent,
once more,
the reality of this world.

—Elizabeth Bishop

Excerpt from “January First” by Octavio Paz, translated by Elizabeth Bishop from The Complete Poems 1927-1979 by Elizabeth Bishop. Copyright 1979, 1983 by Alice Helen Methfessel.

[art from Rob Gonsalves as seen here]

Comments

[Jillian]

Happy New Year! New Year's day, to me, would visually look the same as a blanket of freshly fallen snow without boot prints or paw prints...just virgin fallen snow.

[Marilyn]

Love the poem...and really love the image! So powerful! Maybe it just resonates so deeply since I've just finished writing about my innate fear over letting my light shine. ;) Happy New Year to you and Mr. Brilliant and Emma and Tess and, yes, even Blue. xoxo

[aurora fox]

I absolutely love the images in this painting---I have been a Luna worshiper since the early '70's. And when my girls were small I used to wake them up on clear full moon nights and take them out for "moon walks" to see nature in the moonlight....once you see an owl at night in the moonlight, you never forget that event...

[Lisa Gates]

On Christmas Eve this year a full moon pushed up over the horizon and yawned like blue fire. We came back from Grandma's and made hot chocolate and sat on the porch in the freezing cold just to be a part of that magic.

I'm wishing for a January moon just like that one. With wings.

Advance gratitude, Patti, for every word, every gesture you'll give to this world in the coming year.

[Frivolitea]

Wonderful writing and image. I look forward to reading your reflections in the new year. You have much to share.