820 | A NEW YEAR WITHOUT WAR

With our best Wishes for the New Year

Heaven’s Gate, Varenna, Como Lake, by Walfrido

A New Year Without War

At the rim of the widening gyre of war, the year takes breath.
In Ukraine, bells toll where once the smoke held sway;
On Gaza’s ash, the olive quickens into light,
And Thailand’s, Cambodia’s ancient wounds drink lucid rain.
Within that rain of pity binding the shattered world,
The withered beast of wrath departs; a child of grace is born.
The chronicler of night blots out mankind’s lament
And writes at dawn—
When the new gate swung wide, mankind hearkened to the heart.

Byeong Cheol Kang, Korea