Spend And Grieve Poem by David Lewis Paget

Another year ended
Over and done,
What have we left of it
Now that it’s gone
- What did we lend it?

Only the tears
Of the last year’s spending,
Some of the fears
A beginning, some endings;
Raking our friends
By the sword and the pen with
No wound mending.

How at the fall of the next year, may
We garner our grievings;
Once we have plundered and purged at will
Our last year’s leavings?

Only in time
May we learn our writ;
We spend and grieve
Befriend and leave –
So be it!

25 December 1984