the new year isn’t new to you
for it brings back the memories flashing like fireworks
for it wells up your eyes because you’re a bereaved kin
for it comes shivering like windowpane in a thunderstorm
for it knits the greeting with the yarn of splendour that now rests
still like time under the dust, do you remember the moment?
the new year isn’t new to you
for it’s going to introduce the first death anniversary of your loved one
for it’s going to remind you of all the tears you hid
from the world sitting on the cold bathroom floor, tracing your
rant onto the steam-clad window fogging your face into nothingness
for it plunges deep into your soul like a dagger as you take
a sip of stoicism until you throw up pain like your soul screeching on
the insides of your bones struggling but failing to stay within you
for it flows smoothly as hot tears melting down your magma eyes
as you realise sit silently on couch after seeing the night sky piercing with
booming colours of celebration and shrinking back into darkness
like your numb fingers and restless heart, like your realistic mind and idealistic passion
for it comes glorious as a victory and dark as defeat in seconds
for it comes swishing through the wind like a moth destined to burn to ashes
for it comes delicate as a lullaby and ends weakening into sleep
for it begins without your loved one smiling at you wishing you
the new year isn’t new to you
for it’s just a change of date on the calendar
for it’s just a trifle thing to care about, now
for it’s just a reminder your loved one won’t be with you on your birthday
for it’s more like an elegy or an absence felt
so intensely for it starts without
that one person
for it brings back smiles rippling to stillness in a dark pond
of melancholy…
Hafsa Mumtaz is a 22-years old emerging Muslim poet from Pakistan. Her poetry has been published in Visual Verse, The Rising Phoenix Review, Women’s Spiritual Poetry, The New Verse News, Poetry Potion, Autumn Sky Poetry Daily, Terror House Magazine, Ravi Magazine, The Sandy River Review, Corvus Review, and Couplet Poetry.