Written back when I thought a lot of this was current.

Father Time is welcoming in baby New Year with advice and tips.

"Mom Nature's first up

she could make

life miserable for

you, young pup.

Floods,

fires,

hurricanes,

tsunamis,

all in record highs,

and that's not the only

bad surprise.

Refugees and

terrorists.

Countries tempers

reaching highs.

Identities being lost

with no idea

of the cost.

Politicians

flouting laws,

indifferent

to what they cause.

Landscape

being soiled,

oceans all

despoiled,

the endless climb

for more, because

no one likes being poor.

Making resolutions

they always break

like eating, and

always wanting cake.

Forgetting what

life should be,

for sure.

*********

Okay young fella,

that should do,

the rest you learn

will all be new.

Do your best

don't interfere,

let them find out

through the year.

The job is big

as you start out,

but soon you'll grow

there is no doubt,

and like bookends

that you will hear

on either end of this new year,

as hearts cry out

in a hopeful cheer,

everybody-

Have a Happy New Year!"

To all those with whom I have interacted reading or writing, thank you for a year of entertainment and challenges, and may 2025 continue adding to that repository of talent.