The Book of the New Year
A reflective poem encouraging virtue, forgiveness, and mindful living in the New Year.
Updated December 8, 2025, by Catherine Pulsifer
As we step into the New Year, it’s like opening a fresh, blank book—each page waiting to be filled with our actions, choices, and moments. The Book of the New Year by Emily Bugbee Johnson beautifully reminds us to approach each day with intention and grace. This inspiring poem encourages us to guard our thoughts, cherish truth, and seek forgiveness for our imperfections. Let its words guide you to write your best story in the year ahead, one page at a time.
The Book Of The New Year
Poet: Emily Bugbee Johnson
The book of the new year is opened;
Its pages are spotless and new;
And so, as each leaflet is turning,
Dear children, beware what you do!
Let never a bad thought be cherished;
Keep the tongue from a whisper of guile
And see that your faces are windows,
Through which a sweet spirit shall smile.
And weave for your souls the fair garments
Of honor and beauty and truth,
Which will still with a glory enfold you
When faded the spell of your youth.
And now with the new book endeavor
To write its white pages with care;
Each day is a leaflet, remember,
That is written, then turned - beware!
And if on a page you discover
At evening a blot or a scrawl,
Kneel quickly and ask the dear Savior
In mercy to cover it all.
So when the strange book shall be finished,
And clasped by the angel so tight,
You may feel, though the work be imperfect
You have earnestly tried for the right.
And think how the years are the stairway
On which you must climb to the skies;
And strive that your standing be higher
As each one away from you flies.
Key Points in this poem:
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Each Day Is a New Opportunity
The poem uses the metaphor of a book to illustrate that the New Year is a fresh start, with each day representing a clean, unmarked page. It encourages us to approach life with intention, recognizing that our daily actions and choices contribute to the larger story of our lives.
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Living with Virtue and Integrity
The poem urges us to keep our thoughts pure, our words honest, and our actions aligned with truth and honor. By weaving these virtues into our lives, we create a foundation of beauty and goodness that sustains us even as youth fades and challenges arise.
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Seeking Forgiveness and Striving for Growth
The poem reminds us that we are not perfect and that mistakes will happen, but it offers hope through the act of seeking forgiveness. By turning to the Savior for mercy and committing to improve, we can transform our imperfections into meaningful life lessons and continue climbing toward higher spiritual and moral ground.
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Conclusion
As we come to the end of this thoughtful poem, we are reminded that every new year offers us a chance to grow in kindness, honesty, and faith. The image of a fresh book invites us to slow down and consider what we choose to write on its pages. Each sunrise brings an opportunity to speak gently, act with purpose, and learn from the marks we wish we had made differently. When we ask the Savior for guidance and grace, He helps us rise above our mistakes and continue forward with strength. May this new year be one in which you write with hope, choosing words and actions that reflect the best of who you are becoming.
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