New Year's Morning

"To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter
 or purpose under heaven."
(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Beautiful Sunshine and Snow

(Alaska)

Image courtesy/Pinterest

Only 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 hopes its heart laid down,

As in a grave, but trusting, said:

"The blossoms of the New Year's crown

Bloom 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 hand

All gifts in plenty shall return.

True love it shall understand;

By all my failures it shall learn.

I have been reckless; it shall be

Quiet and calm and pure of life.

I was a slave; it shall go free,

And find sweet pace 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 make

Confession and resolve and prayer;

All days are sacred to wake

New 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.

"New Year's Morning"
Helen Hunt Jackson
(1831-1885)
 Prolific American writer and poetess.
Helen further used her writing skills
to expose the terrible mistreatment 
of  American Indian tribes by the
U.S. Government in her book,
 "A Century of Dishonor"
(1881)