Text, narration & postproduction © 2021 C. Kurtz.

Music: Bach, Cello Suite No.1 in G major, allemande.

“A man begins every stage of his life as a novice.” ― Nicolas Chamfort.

She’s done with me, that’s what she said —

it started great, but now it’s dead;

statistics say it’s commonplace —

so trite but true, she needs her space;

it’s pointless asking one more chance —

the outcome’s destined in advance;

there is a certain time that spans

and then she’s free to change her plans.

I take a walk, under-consoled —

it’s January and it’s cold;

the biggest houses on the street

have Christmas trees, now obsolete;

one day they are embellished and

placed center stage, tall in a stand;

the next week, they’re in the driveway —

awaiting the recycling day.

“New Year” originally published in published in Steam Ticket 2021 and reprinted by Quadrant December 2021.