Today’s Poetics prompt at dVerse Poets Pub is about resolutions. Every year about this time is when New Year’s resolutions fizzle and dissolve, then are forgotten. Last year, I was completely determined to change my behaviors: I read everything about habits, goals, and motivation; I attended an online conference on having my best year; I followed through and did the work; and it worked for a while. But, as usual, life happened, and it all went out the window.

This year, I did not make any resolutions, but I have made a couple significant changes, so is there a difference between making resolutions and actual resolve? Only time will tell.

The prompt for writing the poem is to weave one of five given pieces of advice into a resolution poem.

The Resolve of Despiness

This year there was no reason for a resolution.
I poured my mini-bottle of champagne
into a long-stemmed glass
took it out on the dock
into the strangely warm night
and truly enjoyed the fireworks reflecting on the water

Something had changed in my constitution
as I raised my glass to everyone and no one
and said aloud, “I am happy now!”
The neighbors came out with sparklers
and I yelled Happy New Year, and they yelled it back
I didn’t want anything to change, just stay the same

What a frightening thing to think; this dissolution
is the state I’ve waited for but it took
so long, so many failed attempts
so many previous examples
that happiness cannot last, the acknowledgment
itself dares the universe to take it away.