Poem for the new year 2024

In an infinite universe, my philosopher nephew postulates,
no words would get lost…
(he is trying to console me, for a poem I constructed in the dark deep night
and now is gone completely)
But I don’t know what an infinite universe might be.
Only familiar with a few thousand faces, and a few hundred streets.
So start again…
Ahead, there is a bend in the river 
Our little boat is cruising gently
But what lies ahead?
Around me, in space and time, my friends are dying one be one;
Hardly have time to grieve, before another one departs.
The pain lurches through my body, sobs shatter, 
There is no reason
And there is every reason
Not time to stop
go on, little boat
steer round and greet the unknown.
Here, at the dying of the year, at the dying of the familiar
Lies discovery