Hope Is Often Rented by the Year

December 28, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. This week’s theme is New Year’s Day.

Today’s poem is a Happy New Year poem about one’s lease on hope being renewed each year.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Hope is often rented by the year.

A ceremony helps ensure the signing.

People like transitions to be clear,

Preferably at moments when they're dining.

Yet as a rental flat can be a home,

No one wants to terminate this lease.

Each thinks hope too poor a risk to own

While needing its bright arc for inner peace.

Years therefore start with hope again renewed

Even as the old year's wishes die.

After all the books have been reviewed,

Ring in the New Year!--with a gentle sigh.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/hopeis.html. For more New Year’s poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/newyearsdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: New Year’s Day

December 26: Here’s a Happy Harbinger

December 27: Happiness Depends on More than Years

December 28: Hope Is Often Rented by the Year

Happiness Depends on More than Years

December 27, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. This week’s theme is New Year’s Day.

Today’s poem is a Happy New Year poem about the experience of permanence and change.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Happiness depends on more than years.

All one's moments gather to a wave

Passing in a rolling swell of tears,

Passions too immense to name or save.

Yet New Year's is a crest on which to sing,

Now poised between the future and the past.

Each awaits what course the fates may bring,

Winds that never touch the things that last.

Years turn and turn with an hypnotic grace

Even as the depths of life lie still.

Although above one might not silence face,

Remember that below the divers will.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/happi4.html. For more New Year’s poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/newyearsdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: New Year’s Day

December 26: Here's a Happy Harbinger

December 27: Happiness Depends on More thanYears

Here's a Happy Harbinger

December 26, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. This week’s theme is New Year’s Day.

Today’s poem is a Happy New Year poem about hope being reborn with the New Year.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Here’s a happy harbinger,

A sign of good to come,

Placed where darkness dooms the day,

Placed where hope is gone.

Years, like people, age, and therefore

Need to be reborn,

Ending with a tired sigh,

Weary, weak, and worn.

Yet like a child, each new year is

Embraced with joy regained,

A harbinger of happiness

Returning once again.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/heres3.html. For more New Year’s poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/newyearsdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: New Year’s Day

December 26: Here’s a Happy Harbinger

How Lovely 'Tis to Take This Time

December 25, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. Since Christmas and Chanukah fall so near each other this year (Christmas Eve and the first night of Chanukah are both on December 24), this week’s theme is the spirit common to both holidays.

Today’s poem is a Christmas poem about keeping the flame of love alive through friendship.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

How lovely 'tis to take this time

To greet our dearest friends,

To wish them health and happiness

Before the old year ends.

Darkness comes late afternoon

And winter lies ahead,

But friendship is a glowing fire

When all seems cold and dead.

Just as in some vacant barn,

Unnoticed in the night,

The whole of human history turns,

So we, too, make things right.

We must keep alive the flame

Though darkness grip the Earth;

For in the love we find in friends

Is our chance for rebirth.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/howlov.html. For more Christmas poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/xmaschristmaspoems.html.

This week’s theme: Chanukah and Christmas

December 19: Hanukkah and Christmas Go Together

December 20: Can Anyone Love Christmas Who’s Not Christian

December 21: Three Holidays! Hooray! Hooray!

December 22: Santa Lights the Hanukkah Lights

December 23: So Who Said It Was Easy

December 24: Hanumas Is Something Strange Indeed

December 25: How Lovely ‘Tis to Take This Time

Hanumas Is Something Strange Indeed

December 24, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. Since Christmas and Chanukah fall so near each other this year (Christmas Eve and the first night of Chanukah are both on December 24), this week’s theme is the spirit common to both holidays.

Today’s poem is about celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas (Hanumas) on the same night.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Hanumas is something strange indeed:

A Hanukkah and Christmas in one night!

Now mixed families must combine the two,

Uniting loved ones just as God would do,

Making separate flames a single light.

All who love by love are thenceforth freed

Simply in all love to find delight.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/hanuma.html. For more Christmas poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/xmaschristmaspoems.html. For more Hanukkah poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/chanukahpoems.html.

This week’s theme: Chanukah and Christmas

December 19: Hanukkah and Christmas Go Together

December 20: Can Anyone Love Christmas Who’s Not Christian

December 21: Three Holidays! Hooray! Hooray!

December 22: Santa Lights the Hanukkah Lights

December 23: So Who Said It Was Easy

December 24: Hanumas Is Something Strange Indeed

So Who Said It Was Easy

December 23, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. Since Christmas and Chanukah fall so near each other this year (Christmas Eve and the first night of Chanukah are both on December 24), this week’s theme is the spirit common to both holidays.

Today’s poem is a Hanukkah poem about keeping the flame of love alive.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

So who said it was easy to keep old flames burning?

Even experts could use a little divine help now and then.

The easy part is to go out and be brilliant as Shakespeare.

Harder--much harder--to be the light dancing in someone else's eyes.

Lights such as love require more faith than fuel.

Of all leaps, the most dangerous is into the mind of your lover.

Regarding miracles: What is less explicable than

Remaining in love through the long icy anguish of anger?

All lovers long for freedom only slightly less than they fear it.

In the end, love burns not desire but fear.

Not one of us would be capable of keeping the fire burning

Except for the knowledge that it is the sweetest, best, and most

beautiful thing in our lives.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/sowho.html. For more Hanukkah poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/chanukahpoems.html.

This week’s theme: Chanukah and Christmas

December 19: Hanukkah and Christmas Go Together

December 20: Can Anyone Love Christmas Who’s Not Christian

December 21: Three Holidays! Hooray! Hooray!

December 22: Santa Lights the Hanukkah Lights

December 23: So Who Said It Was Easy

Santa Lights the Hanukkah Lights

December 22, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. Since Christmas and Chanukah fall so near each other this year (Christmas Eve and the first night of Chanukah are both on December 24), this week’s theme is the spirit common to both holidays.

Today’s poem is a Season’s Greetings poem about celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Santa lights the Hanukkah lights

Eight days in a row,

As Jews sing carols winter nights,

Songs they love and know.

Out of many, one, but one

Need not reduce one’s faith.

Some love love, wherever from,

Glad to share the grace.

Remember that identity

Endures through love alone.

Exclusive faith eventually

Turns loving hearts to stone.

Into your well-chosen cup

Now pour a blended soul,

Giving not one blessing up,

Savoring the whole.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/santal.html. For more Christmas poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/xmaschristmaspoems.html. For more Hanukkah poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/chanukahpoems.html.

This week’s theme: Chanukah and Christmas

December 19: Hanukkah and Christmas Go Together

December 20: Can Anyone Love Christmas Who’s Not Christian

December 21: Three Holidays! Hooray! Hooray!

December 22: Santa Lights the Hanukkah Lights