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Happy New Year

© Sandra Linville

by Susan Maree Jeavons
Editor, Child Abuse & Recovery
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/chil...

A toast to children everywhere
in hopes that 2000 will bring
progress in the fight to stop child abuse.

And to survivors, I salute you for being
courageous in sharing your stories so others might
realize there is hope.

To parents, I toast you and ask that when you look at a child, see their souls, know they trust you for their every need and then, treat them with kindness, treat them with love.

A Toast To our leaders, in hopes that they will see the importance of mandatory parenting classes, stronger child abuse laws, and mandatory incarceration for sexual abuse of a child.

To the world, I toast you and offer this;
children are the future
and the future is now.

From "Toasts" published by Willow Creek Press

Sashi Noburu
Asahi no gotoku
Sawayaka ni
Motamahoshiki wa
Kokoro narikeii

Translation:

The thing we want
Is hearts that rise above Earth's
Worries like
The Sun at morn, rising above the clouds,
Splendid and strong

To Care

by Longfellow

A little health, a little wealth,
A little house and freedom,
With some few friends for certain ends,
But little cause to need 'em
And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away

From "Toasts" by Paul Dickson

Irish traditional

As we start the New Year,
Let's get down on our knees
To thank God we're on our feet.

by William Feather

Let us resolve to do the best we can with what we've got.

By Alfred Lord Tennyson

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring happy bells across the snow,
The year is going, let him go.

A traditional tongue-twister toast:

Here's a health to you and yours who have done such things for us and ours; and when we and ours have it in our powers to do for you and yours what you and yours have done for us and ours, then we and ours will do for you and yours what you and yours have done for ours.

The copyright of the article Happy New Year in Word Play is owned by Sandra Linville. Permission to republish Happy New Year in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.