PoetsPub was gracious enough to give this piece space in the final Chatter of 2019 - my sincere thanks for the honour.

A Changing of the Guard

Father Time consulted his watch

An expensive Patek Philippe

The hour he awaited would soon arrive

And he watched the minute hand creep

As the calendar moved from nineteen to twenty

He felt the past year in his bones

And he re-checked his announcement bells

For any dissonant tones

Where was the young replacement

By now he should have been here

It would be unconscionable

To have him do another year

The minute hand shifted

It was only seconds before his time would end

He couldn't just ring his bell and walk away

What kind of message would that send

Wait! I see him now

His twenty-twenty banner and his cone shaped hat

No wonder he was almost late

With all that baby fat

He showed little New Year his ticking watch

Only seconds left to go

The past was slipping from his sight

There was so much new to know

Take my hand my little friend

Together we'll ring in your year

Wishing all the world around

A future of peace, love and cheer