new year

I shall ring 

wing 

sing 

in the year 

with Mahler’s 4th jingling room 

littered with Christmas detritus 

cards chocolates gifts candles 

and music crescendos 

into ominous chords 

jingling in minor key 

but movement ends 

in stately hope 

strong melody flinging in face 

of audacious odds 

and I think of a puppy 

finding his feet in new snow 

chasing a small boy on forest path 

collar tinging “hello ‘21”