Debris from fear and anger uncontrolled.
Leftover expectations misinvested,
Hurts visited by others,
and those that I provoked.
Bits of self-absorption unprotested.
I lay them in a pile: my might-have-beens.
One by one, I shape with them an effigy -
my stunted best intentions,
my must-begin-agains -
and in my imperfection write the elegy.
By choice I lay them down:
my rightful unmet claims,
the unfilled aspirations once held dear:
and watch the flames convert
my año viejo sacrifice
into ash that sanctifies this coming year.
Leftover expectations misinvested,
Hurts visited by others,
and those that I provoked.
Bits of self-absorption unprotested.
I lay them in a pile: my might-have-beens.
One by one, I shape with them an effigy -
my stunted best intentions,
my must-begin-agains -
and in my imperfection write the elegy.
By choice I lay them down:
my rightful unmet claims,
the unfilled aspirations once held dear:
and watch the flames convert
my año viejo sacrifice
into ash that sanctifies this coming year.
-cs 123116
*In Ecuador, an effigy is built of the Old Year (Año Viejo),
then burnt on the stroke of midnight of December 31. 