What a relief -
after the tension
of not wanting to offend
non-believers with a greeting
of Merry Christmas;
not wanting to invoke the wrath
of rabid believers
with a wish for Happy Holidays -
to have the chance to offer
greetings on a holiday we can
all agree on,
supported by the reality of the calendar.
 
So on my walk today
it was Happy New Year!
to young and old alike,
without the fear of offense.
And the old were truly happy
to see the arrival of another year,
and the young were all good natured enough
to accept the greetings of a stranger
who was offering on this freezing, windy day
wishes that, at least,
were warm.


Š by Pat Brisson.
Used with the author's permission.