A Year's Reflection

A Year’s Reflection

At first, it was far away in the distance from me,

Hiding its gifts of grief, death, and calamity.

In the far reaches before its time to be spent,

It sent only messages of impending hatred or discontent.

In yonder skies that held approaching gloom,

Not expecting nor deserving I often assumed.

Swirling ever closer, no one could have thought,

Of the secrets of my destiny, or of those tragedies it brought.

It crept ever closer to my home, my life, my soul,

Hastening to unwrap its judgment if the truth be told.

First one event then another it displayed for me to see,

Each crushed my heart making it uneasy to breathe.

It swirled above filled with unpredictability and dread,

As it took those I loved from my heart and my head.

Gone are my brothers, mother, aunts, and cousins,

Who filled my life with love, in all about a half dozen.

Swirling with hunger for whatever was left,

It stalled above me and waited to take the rest.

Great sorrow, this year’s gift reaffirming nothing is forever,

It began its last assault showing me it was cleverer.

Twisting and churning, spinning a new plot,

It struck my body with something that had to be stopped.

Seeking grace and mercy and communion from friends,

The dagger that pierced me was cut out to bring its end.

At the close of this year from last December until now,

I’ve wondered how I’ve made it, only grace can avow.

The storm still waits overhead, above I can see it,

But its voraciousness to consume me has subsided a bit.

Testing some would say to see where I stand,

Or like others might add it’s not uncommon to man.

To endure all that befalls us or is sent our way,

Is to help us become stronger for the approaching days.

By: Dan R. Fowler

For: Astrid