A new January, a new beginning,
soon, clocks will strike twelve, and calendars will turn.
We’ll toast to clean slates before us,
as the past dissolves and the future burns,
And like the year before,
we’ll swear to keep it burning this time.
~ ~ ~
But, time’s a wheel spinning,
pulling us back to familiar patterns.
Resolutions written, ambitions declared,
yet this year won’t differ from the last.
Changes promised will fall asleep to the hum of past habits,
and the silence of present actions.
~ ~ ~
We’ll walk paths we swore we wouldn’t tread,
wear chains we swore we’d break.
Like an old romance,
we spend the year with our past,
making the same mistakes, on a different calendar year.
The fire we swore to keep alive will burn us whole.
~ ~ ~
By March, sparks will dim and old temptations will come knocking,
resolutions will become a fairytale we hope for.
By June, lights will barely shine.
We’ll be drowning again, unable to swim,
but still basking in the promises we made ourselves.
~ ~ ~
By September, our goals will become autumn leaves, accepting the fall and the same old endings.
We’ll begin to cling to a new year,
with the hope of a new beginning and a different ending.
~ ~ ~
And just like that, December will roll around again,
and we’ll await that midnight chime filled with fireworks.
When calendars change again, we’ll look on in hopeful cheer.
Another year, another chance for new beginnings.
~ ~ ~
But we must ask ourselves, before the clock chimes,
why must our new beginnings begin with a clock?
What if the changes we seek aren’t time-bound?
What if they come from within, anytime?
Would we continue the cycle, or face ourselves, break the chains?
Till our new beginnings are a thing of the past?
For we have begun, and old endings no longer haunt us.
About the Creator
Komal
I write poems and stories that hit the feels.
When I’m not lost in my own plots, I’m either daydreaming about the next big idea or just winging life with a grin.
𝕀 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕒𝕟 𝕀𝕄ℙ𝔸ℂ𝕋
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
The Ritual of Winter Challenge Winners
Welcome to the Winners Announcement for The Ritual of Winter challenge. This prompt focused on winter rituals and the meaning that settles into them over time. The top pieces stay grounded in ordinary acts and repeated routines, letting winter shape the work through pace, attention, and restraint.
By Vocal Curation Team3 days ago in Resources
Comments (23)
Beautifully-written, inspiring & super-profound! Well done! 💕👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Creatures of habit are we, we live and hope, make plans and carry on. Oh, the cycle, it continues on. so much truth here.
Excellent poem… beautifully inspiring conclusion. For some reason, I always find it easier to start something new at the start of a week/ month/year!😳🤔
Wonderful!
So much irony and old souled wisdom put into this! agree with so much of it! well done, Komal!
I found this inspiring and so wonderfully written. How true why have a clock determine our actions. You ran thrrough the months exactly as they happen.
I resonate deeply with the sentiment in this poem! Change begins whenever we are ready and doesn't depend on a clock. I LIKE this type of writing from you!
‘The fire we swore to keep alive will burn us whole’ in absolute awe at the moment with this line, as I was reading I was thinking: yep, this is the stuff. She has done it again, she has found a way into our minds and is controlling the boat. I love how realistic this was. How it was drenched in darker tones. How you’ve added the months and what usually comes with it. September ~ autumn, bringing with it the fall and old endings and how that amazingly flowed with the previous musings. I like that you didn’t leave us in the gloom, but that you helped us up after you showed us the mirror. Protecting us from the trap we tend to fall into. Your guidance is appreciated 👌🏽👏🏽♥️🤗
Yay! This is damn true. We don't need certification from time to make a change.
This is the cycle of our lives. Written so well. Happy New Year! 🎊
What a beautifully written reflection on the cycles of time, growth, and the resolutions we make — yet often leave behind. Your words capture the bittersweet truth of new beginnings and the challenges of staying true to our promises. It’s a poignant reminder that change doesn't need to be tethered to a calendar — it is something that starts within us, at any given moment. As we welcome 2025, may this year be the one where you break free from the old patterns, where growth is nurtured in each action, and the new beginnings are truly embraced with every passing day. Let us not wait for the clock to chime before we begin anew. May you find peace, strength, and unwavering commitment to your path, making each moment count. Happy New Year 2025, Komal! Here’s to a year of transformation, joy, and realizing the potential that lies within you. Best wishes, Arshad Sajjad Khan
Komal it was crazily thought-provoking 🤝👏 Loved it 💖
Happy new year
"The fire we swore to keep alive will burn us whole." This line hit me so hard. Loved your poem so much!
Resolutions ring with new promises, wondering if they will stick. A well written tribute to remind us of our chosen journey.
Exquisitely written komal with many life truths interspersed. Excellent work!
What a beautiful article written with emotions of all humans too good
Why must our new beginnings begin with a clock? What if the changes we seek aren't time-bound? What if they come from within, anytime? That is so true. I love it!
Love this. It really rings true and I have these feelings every year at this time. If we want change we have to make it happen at any time, not just an arbitrary day. Great work
Yes, everything in repetition. That's us.
Wonderful!! Yes, do it as you will, unheeding the calendar and wheel of time. It goes on, and so do we!!
Fresh starts or familiar falls? That’s the real New Year’s question. The poem nails it: we toast, we plan, and we fizzle, trapped in old cycles. But maybe the secret isn’t the clock—it’s us. Change starts whenever we choose, no countdown required. Let’s make this the year we truly begin :)
Wonderful story