Kevin Young

 NEW YEAR'S LETTER

 

Son, the words that aren't

yet yours

are the ones we want

 

most to hear. Forget

the dead, the executions

& the moon that disappears

 

like most everything, see

how it returns?

Forget those lists

 

of the dead

that appear like paperwhites

at years end, narcissuses, 

 

something to aspire to--

so many forgot

or not

 

even mentioned.Forget

the assassins, the foolish  

critics, the silence

 

we all learn. the ghosts

of the words

that go away. Instead,

 

keep trying

your tongue like a flame

about to start, the sound

 

of flint striking stone, your mouth.

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