Twenty four stories above beyond
you genuflect with your
blonde magic wand
Your lemon tiara drops
into the pond
without a ripple
or a wave

For a second
untethered from
doubt and pain
your collect collar rings
‘round a weathervane
Your trajectory arcs
with a rainbow glow
through the snow
falling dark
on the park

Don't worry
Don't worry
Don't worry ‘bout a thing
Flurries, squalls and
ball lightning

New Year’s here
New Year’s here
Raise a glass
Disappear

Hustling tipsy you slip
in your hourglass where
whiskey sour cash rustles
in the brazier
snipping snail shell
sloe gin tail spin sips
like a phonographic
pin-up note

Blush of bridal
sweet as honey combs
your tidal hair falls
like a metronome
floating tones
on unloosed
Sousaphones
with bells shining
brassy white

Don't worry
Don't worry
Don't worry ‘bout a thing
Red tide blooms and
jelly stings

New Year’s here
New Year’s here
Hold your head up
Hide your fear

Laughter
showers
afterhours
Hors d'oeuvres served on English muffins
glazed in hollandaise
and faint praise
bury January’s bluff

“Yknow we’re nothing more
than sweat and flour,”
you say, pouring coffee,
“...counting minutes...
Mounted lions and gazelles faced
well intentioned
from a wall.”

“Don't worry
Don't worry
Don't worry ‘bout a thing!”
shouts the season’s reasoning
“New Year’s here!
New Year’s here!
Start from scratch
the slate is clear!”

New Year’s here
New Year’s here
Cry your eyes out
dry your tears
Cry your eyes out
dry your tears
Cry your eyes out
dry your tears