Old Year

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h1><i>The Old Year</i></h1> <p id="id00658">The Old Year's gone away<br/> To nothingness and night:<br/> We cannot find him all the day<br/> Nor hear him in the night:<br/> He left no footstep, mark or place<br/> In either shade or sun:<br/> The last year he'd a neighbour's face,<br/> In this he's known by none.<br/></p> <p id="id00659">All nothing everywhere:<br/> Mists we on mornings see<br/> Have more of substance when they're here<br/> And more of form than he.<br/> He was a friend by every fire,<br/> In every cot and hall—<br/> A guest to every heart's desire,<br/> And now he's nought at all.<br/></p> <p id="id00660">Old papers thrown away,<br/> Old garments cast aside,<br/> The talk of yesterday,<br/> Are things identified;<br/> But time once torn away<br/> No voices can recall:<br/> The eve of New Year's Day<br/> Left the Old Year lost to all.<br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />