Year End Pantoum

with afternoons ranging into the seventies
during December, the week after Christmas
we still collect the memories of the year
bringing them into focus as we carry on

during December, the week after Christmas
finding our paths into the grey future
bringing them into focus as we carry on
when time seems to slide ever more quickly

finding our paths into the grey future
on the downward side of the curve
when time seems to slide ever more quickly
the branches of possibility grow fewer in number

on the downward side of the curve
with afternoons ranging into the seventies
the branches of possibility grow fewer in number
we still collect the memories of the year