New is coming a big basket on head, Laden with hopes, desires, and lucky chances And looks utterly promising to lead Us no fail to health, wealth, happiness... Will Old be old, who was new a year ago? Will he like a dead leaf off the tree fall And leave his place for New to fill and grow? Or like a folio of a distressful novel Flow to the next -- like flew the foregoing? Same things again, again in New all over; Same setbacks, shocks, pains, sorrows, sufferings; Contagions, killings, crimes, conflicts, yet more? Howe'er, caught all in a whimsy of celebration Bet'n going and coming, by a shamly provision. -- N P SAMAL