January – I have seen the light
Poem: January – I have seen the light
Why don’t you like me?
Well, the feeling is mutual
What did I do to you?
For years now, I have not showed up for your special party on the 1st
For my better
And what is clearly your worst
I have looked at the clock
I have looked at the mirror
I have seen the light and rested my heart and my head
I have gone straight to my bed
I have turned my back on your far-right midnight
Lies lies and you patronise!
Lies lies there’s no compromise!
Why should you be more special than all other months?
Why should all celebrate you?
What makes you so special?
A cultural curator
A manipulator
A deluded and soon to be debunked dictator
You’re cloudy, dark, cold, muddy, and covered in mist
There’s so many things to achieve from your must do ‘to do list’
Teasing us with a fraction of sunlight?
As we feel guilty, hunger and shame?
Lies lies and you patronise!
Lies lies there’s no compromise
Miserable and grumpy
Telling all to start something new at your beginning?
It’s not a green light for me
Here, I won’t be winning
To buy more stuff I cannot afford and do not need.
Just to feed you?
Your ego and your greed?
Telling all they are hideous, unhealthy and fat
but list the promises you’ll make all better and wealthy
It’s as simple as that
Lies lies and you patronise!
Lies lies there’s no compromise!
Telling all to ditch the car and cycle up a grand old hill
Play around with peoples minds, spirit and free will!
Imposing unwritten rules because you were first in the queue and at the very top.
To the previous year, you should be relegated
and the very best exterminated!
If a statue of you existed
You’d be… toppled!
There are many other events throughout the year
Much to celebrate in many ways
Friendships, culture and unions, the seasons and the happy birthdays.
Lies lies
I have now got wise!
This is the last of my cheerios to you
All of my bye byes – January!
Review: January – I have seen the light
I thought it was just me who wasn’t a big fan of the month of January!
But the poet has taken their sentiment of it to another level altogether!
They have taken the arrival of the month of January, with all its faults, well known traits and is affronted. The poet has taken things personally and has had enough!
No more! No more!
After reading the first stanza, it appears to me that the poet is prepared to dump and divorce it?! (it’s a month for goodness sake!) Those are strong thoughts to have and actions to take. Over the years the poet has turned their back on the ritualistic behaviours that are demanded from it but… it’s… ITS NOT A PERSON! Where is the poet going with this? I’m curious and a bit startled. Surely everyone does something to mark the passing from an old year and into a new one, no? It’s got to take place somewhere in the year. It’s January, it’s not its fault that it is disliked… or is it? Those Christmas angels have returned to the heavens to play their delightful harmonious harps and the Easter bunnies are a long way from bouncing into the horizon to greet us with a cute nose twitch or two. So, what has the poet done, or is likely to do? I read on…
The poet does not celebrate the first day of it and hasn’t done so in years!
Ok, that is one thing to mark off the “I hate January” list. The first day of the year via a midnight route is not for everyone is it? But to hold the whole month in so much contempt. That is a big deal, no?
The poet has decided to go straight to bed and not to tap a toe nor venture towards a dance floor to see the year in. A sensible move or a party pooper?
What else do I discover as I read on, I wonder?
‘For better and for worse’ references have been made as though the poet is married to the month and it looks like an imposed union that has been on the ‘dwindle’ for quite some time. Oh dear.
Describing the month as fascist!
Whoa! A powerful outcry of ‘a far-right midnight!’
That sure is extreme!
I had never thought of the month of January being in this way. Has it always been like this? Are we too accepting and forgiving of it?
The poet then blasts into accusatory mode with saying that the month is a liarand it attempts to create a culture with a condescending attitude. Do all adhere to its rules? Oh my word… Now I’m thinking of it…January does sound like a dictator
Hang on a minute though. What are these rules?
Rule number one: Start something new. That sounds good and encouraging, doesn’t it?
Oh oh… Rule number two: ‘to buy more stuff’ that’s unaffordable and not needed!
This is all said against a backdrop of lies. The individual is being told that they are lacking, are odious, ugly, not good enough and unattractive! And yet January promises to ‘correct’ everything.
Forget about driving? (well, cars and driving, that’s another story for another time)
But the line that says, to cycle up a grand old hill makes me laugh out loud!
That’s a lot of pressure coming from the month. All because it’s the first in the year so it thinks it’s better than all the other months?. A case of ‘first come, first served?’ Well yes served a notice of eviction (as the poet says) Boo hiss to you and your bossy dictator boots January, you meanie!
What a hideous sounding month!
Ok, here in the U.K it is miserable and there are the exotic sounding storms that come along for the tumultuous ride but January is indeed ugly. What makes it uglier is that it attempts to make all feel that they are! Outrageous! And how dare you with your misty, dark and muddy ways! Hold a mirror up to yourself January! You should be, like the poet says, debunked and exterminated!
I cannot choose and won’t choose any flouncy words to make it sound good. Nothing about the month is inspiring.
These are not just my sentiments.
But I am glad to read on to the end and see that the poet hasn’t lost hope in the year because occasions of getting together with others throughout it is what is viewed as important.
“Happy New Year, and happy new moments to all throughout it.” is what I’d say.
January we do not need your pressure.
Sort yourself out! Bye-bye.
An eye opening read from the poet. I enjoyed the little rhymes that helps to emphasise the poet’s sentiments. There’s passion. I’m normally a ‘sitting on the fence kind of a person. I tend to see both sides. Having different perspectives is healthy generally, yes, but when it comes to January and how it causes much upset for so many, I’m with the poet 100%