Poetry for the New Year

Awakening ©Mary Montague Sikes

Awakening 

 

Beneath a vast universe of stars, a new year is dawning. 

Above fragile mother earth, angel wings hover. 

As flowers lie silent in dark frozen fields, 

Hope lifts lonely tree limbs into the murky sky. 

 

‘Tis always darkest before the dawn, someone murmured.

 An old year fades away into the morning light. 

Atop frigid ground, small birds sing out. 

Angel wings glimmer like diamonds in celestial beams.

 

Fly high, sweet angels, into the flame of a bright new year. 

Let fresh dreams sparkle in a blaze of glory. 

Orange and red streaks invite destiny. 

The gleam of bright angels casts wonder above. 

 

I watch my angels fling hues of green across the sky 

As their magic embraces the lingering sparkle of stars. 

Daylight has broken and the majesty of new hope appears,

Awakening all to the promise of miracles.

                                                      © Mary Montague Sikes

 

(These words and the painting came to me intuitively when I reflected on the new year 2021.)

The Year That Wasn’t

When 2020 began, I had high hopes for a wonderful, exciting new year. I’m sure most of us welcomed the new year with great anticipation. Little did we know what lay ahead.

As an educator, I found closing the schools earlier in the year a big concern. It’s good we have virtual learning, but that is not the same as in-class instruction with teachers there to motivate and inspire, especially for the youngest children.

I missed attending art openings and getting to mingle with other artists and with patrons. The last event that I attended early this year was an opening at Gloucester Arts on Main called “Winter Blues”. That was back in January. Other open house art events have taken place more recently with attendance limited, but we are being quite cautious. On my computer, I’ve enjoyed watching virtual tours of Crossroads Art Center open house activities.

Virtual Zoom meetings as well as virtual critique groups have been helpful. I got to see the juror, Paul di Pasquale, for the Metropolitan Richmond Artists annual juried show up close and heard his remarks clearly by way of Facebook. I was pleased that my painting, “Desert on Xanadu” received an honorable mention in the show. This photo was taken of my computer screen as the juror discussed my painting in the show. Technology is amazing!

Paul di Pasquale, juror for the MRAA show