Walking to the end, the beach was cold,
Even in its hour of gold. Waves leap
At my bare feet, which clamber over rocks.
They’re beaten, bruised, much like what this last year
Has done to me. Soon shadows blaze behind
My feet. I want to leave the hurt behind,
So I followed my brother to the sea
For hope to be rung into the New Year,
For fear to be crushed, and to bear the cold.
This could only be achieved at the rock
Where I now see Gordon about to leap.
He sees me, smiles, and waves, but then he leaps
Into the deep. His friends follow behind,
A string of splashes crash below the rock.
Their heads pop up, arms ripping through the sea.
They flop on shore and shiver from the cold,
With bright smiles they pant a happy New Year
To me. We walk and talk of their first year
Away, the good and hard of their big leap
In life. Conversation ends when the cold
Water begins to touch my feet. Behind
Me the land calls, I want to leave the sea.
Even so, I swear and thrash towards the rock.
I reach it first and start climbing the rock.
We gather atop and gawk at the years
First sunset, shimmering across the sea.
We fight over who will take the first leap
With blue lips chattering, grinning. Behind
Me, Gordon takes off straight into the cold
Ocean. Till now, I’ve never been so cold
And scared. But here I stand upon the rocks
High ledge. I need to leave the pain behind.
To be happy and unafraid this year.
Hazel eyes lure me to the edge. I leap
Feet first, screaming and aiming for the sea.
Years passed by as I left the rock for sea.
A frozen baptism into the year,
A leap to leave the stinging cold behind.