Dearest Word Weavers, Happy New Year to you all! And to the world – may 2026 be a huge improvement on 2025.
(Yes, we did say Magaly would be the first to greet you this year, but) I so love to share the Sydney fireworks. These days – wild partying being a bit behind me! – I always usher in the new year by watching them on my TV. They are spectacularly beautiful. Each year I think, ‘Oh they’ll never surpass this effort!’ but every new year they amazingly do. I can only say that this year was truly the best ever … so far.
When I was a kid, firework nights used to be noisy affairs, lots of crackers popping with loud bangs all over the place, and rockets whooshing into the air like prolonged screams. But those kinds of fireworks were long ago deemed too dangerous, after far too many accidents, and were finally banned here. Usually there are some staccato pops, like a series of gunshots, to be heard around our neighbourhood on New Year’s Eve. The authorities realise a few people will ‘let off bangers’ (as we used to say) even though it’s strictly illegal, so everyone is warned to keep their pets safely indoors. Not only are the fireworks themselves potentially dangerous, but the noise can be terrifying to both animals and people. But let's not forget they are primarily celebratory! At this time of year they celebrate another year finally navigated as best we can, and completed, and they celebrate hopeful new beginnings.
I attended the Sydney fireworks in person only once, a long time ago, and don’t recall them making any sound. Certainly on TV the only sounds I ever notice are the cheers and gasps of delight from the crowd. We have a big pop concert first, every year, then the fireworks begin at midnight and go on for 20 minutes – amazing images unfolding in quick succession over that gorgeous harbour, with the Bridge and the Opera House in backdrop. It’s such a feast of variety, it seems to last much longer than 20 minutes. I took approximately 180 photos this time! (Not that hasty phone snaps taken in such conditions can really do it justice – nevertheless I'm glad to have my phone camera, which can at least get them really fast.)
How can we poets and storytellers embody a bright enough light to overcome the darkness that marred so much of the world in 2025? Some of us have written in appalled protest to call out the ugliness of war, the evils of terrorism, the wicked irresponsibility of not working harder to alleviate climate change. Others of us have preferred to use our words to try and counteract gloom and horror by spreading joy and beauty, delighting in the wonders of nature and in the great good which is also to be found in humanity in both large and small ways. I think both kinds of writing are important. What is most important must surely be that everyone alive tries to spread light and love as best we can. How? Some of our religions give us a clue. As a Pagan, I have deep love and reverence for Nature and try to look after our Mother Earth and all Her children. I also cherish the teachings of Jesus: ‘Love one another,’ and of the Dalai Lama, who says his religion is kindness.
Your optional prompt this time is to be inspired by – Fireworks! (And you may use any of these photos as ekphrastics if you like.)
Guidelines: One post each, poetry or prose, new or old, on prompt or not, 369 words maximum (apart from title and notes). Please enjoy and comment on others' posts, not forgetting to come back and check for later offerings, and do leave us messages here too if you wish or need.
Next week we’ll invite you to find inspiration in the following quote by Arthur Ashe: ‘Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.’
All the photos are of my TV screen, © Rosemary Nissen-Wade 1/1/2026
