The Same New Valentine

Even though on the cusp of January
all the dead of the past year
gather together with all those
still to be born in the new year
for the thrilling award ceremonies
of arrival and departure
which we the living
have prepared for them
sometimes I feel
we’re all just reenacting
from different sides
with varying capacities
in multiple time-frames
the same questions
the same quarrels
over and over again
lifetime after lifetime
while the ones on this side
of the blue sky
could do anything
if they only knew what to do
facing those on the other
who watch and know
exactly what would work
but can’t lift a finger
to help or save us
except we listen to
their silent words.