Jerry Chasen's Blog

With the pause that year’s end brings–
turkey time now days away–
my mind plays with many things
that perhaps are what to say

in my yearly ode to kin
and friends.  Two words seem to rise
above the clatter and din
this year, and so claim the prize

(if such it is–for clear to
me at least is that who writes
these things is another who
than me, if I let the light

through; but I digress).  The first
–change–is simply said, but not
so simply lived.  A sharp burst
sometimes, unconnected dots

others, it and it alone
is constant.  Big or little,
like it or loathe it, no moan
nor cheer, no prayer nor fiddle

with the dial will hold the pic-
ture steady.  Change is.  Always.
That’s the truth.  And thru the thick,
that’s the other word that plays

in my mind–truth.  No, not some
absolute, but personal
truth, the calm knowing come
to an individual

realizing what’s theirs and mine
aren’t always one.  Shakespeare
wrote “This above all to thine
ownself be true”.  It is clear

to me at least this advice
is the seatbelt used to ride
the rollercoaster of highs
and lows safely in the side

car of change.  Cause if I say,
if I be, what’s true for me,
change loses much of its sway
with me.  I don’t always see

the bright side–no one’s ever
called me Pollyanna.  But
whatever the endeavor,
whether a slight change or glut,

if I take the time to check
in with my self, and to true
my vision to who the heck
I am, my response to new

feels safe, right; and new feels less
threatening.  This year ending
had few, I’m glad to confess,
big changes; no upending

of home or work; no great loss
of some dearest to me.  But
when this year past I was tossed
a hot one, truth’s cool calm put

a spin on it I could hold.
This year’s wish for one and all
is to mine your true vein gold
so that changes, large or small,

are truly met by your, and
not by any other’s ore.
If we on our own truths stand,
fear abandons change’s door.

Click below for an audio recording