i am running into a new year

by Lucille Clifton

i am running into a new year

and the old years blow back

like a wind
that i catch in my hair

like strong fingers like

all my old promises and

it will be hard to let go

of what i said to myself

about myself

when i was sixteen and

twentysix and thirtysix

even thirtysix but

i am running into a new year

and i beg what i love and

i leave to forgive me

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From Cries of the Spirit, an anthology of "more than 300 Poems in Celebration of Women's Spirituality." A Christmas gift to myself from myself.