Happy New Poems!

If you run an Internet search of “New Year poems,” the one by Dickinson that is likely to pop up is “One year ago jots what.”

I’ve posted that poem on the right. 

However, Dickinson was not included in the first link that popped up for me when I ran such a search.  Instead, the link titled “Eight beautiful New Year’s poems" includes works by other poets -- both old and contemporary ones.  That link is HERE. 

Although none of these poems are by Dickinson, there is something for everyone: humor, hope, excitement, loneliness, awe, joy – even religion (LOL – I gotta say that Lord Alfred Tennyson lost me with that final line of his, “Ring in the Christ that is to be”).
I liked many of the images in these poems, but I’d say my favorite was “Promise,” by Jackie Kay, which begins “Remember, the time of year / when the future appears / like a blank sheet of paper / a clean calendar, a new chance.”
Later in the poem she says, “You vow fresh footprints.”
Of course, all of this centers on New Year’s resolutions – and just FYI: Dickinson never used “resolution” in any of her poems (although she did use “resoluter” in “I'm the little 'Heart's Ease'!"). 

​I actually succeeded with my NY’s resolutions for 2022 (involving daily exercise – now a daily habit) and 2023 (involving my running – I’ve outrun my total mileage from last year), so I hope the same will be true for 2024 – which will involve setting a healthier diet and drinking more water. This will be hard for me as I have an incredible sweet-tooth and love for soda! LOL.

Perhaps I should also set a resolution to decrease my screen time and not check my cell phone as much throughout the day and during meals? 

Hmm...that made me think of Emmett Lee Dickinson's now-classic poem "I heard my Phone buzz --when I dined" -- so I've posted that poem below on the left.  Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "I heard a Fly buzz -- when I died," below on the right. 

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

I heard my Phone buzz – when I dined –
The Droning of the Hum
Was like the Droning in the Air –
Between the Bees that Swarm –
 
The iPhone sound – had caught my ear –
My Breath then gathered firm
For one last Doom Scroll – when the Ring
Be witnessed – in the Room – 
 
I ate my Entrée -- Dined away
What portion of it be
Comestible -- and then it was
There interposed my Phone –
 
With Blue – uncertain – stumbling Buzz –
Between the meal – and me –
And then my Manners failed – and then
I could not help to see –

By Emily Dickinson:

I heard a Fly buzz - when I died -
The Stillness in the Room
Was like the Stillness in the Air -
Between the Heaves of Storm -
 
The Eyes around - had wrung them dry -
And Breaths were gathering firm
For that last Onset - when the King
Be witnessed - in the Room -
 
I willed my Keepsakes - Signed away
What portion of me be
Assignable - and then it was
There interposed a Fly -
 
With Blue - uncertain - stumbling Buzz -
Between the light - and me -
And then the Windows failed - and then
I could not see to see –

---

At the right:  It turns out that Emmett Lee Dickinson penned two versions of this poem.  The main differences between Version 2 and his original are the opening stanza and the final line.

Which do you like better?

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

I heard my Phone buzz – when I dined –
The Realness of the Noise
Was like the Realness in the Flair
Between the News and Needs
 
The iPhone sound – had caught my ear –
My Breath then gathered firm
For one last Doom Scroll – when the Ring
Be witnessed – in the Room – 
 
I ate my Entrée -- Dined away
What portion of it be
Comestible -- and then it was
There interposed my Phone –
 
With Blue – uncertain – stumbling Buzz –
Between the meal – and me –
And then my Manners failed – and then
I looked to see – to see –
​

Do you have a resolution you’re hoping to keep this year?