(This is a poem on keeping the faith; the deep presence of Joy; of the promise of day which follows night, and spring which follows winter. Sometimes I wonder of this recession: will people still buy my poems? And then I entertain the happy thought that perhaps this recession will make poets of us all… we’ll learn to find the hidden riches in our surroundings, in each other and in our hearts.)
Joy Lives
Like a Jonquil in winter,
just beneath the surface
and still very alive.
Invisible sometimes, yes~
here memory assists
(of a pitcher filled with
sunny blooms
on the old farm kitchen table.)
Inaudible, maybe, yes…
we supply our own song.
And then, as promised, yes,
full fragrance, color, light
rise through the pregnant darkness,
lifting higher into Yes.
Joy lives, poised
in all that is possible, yes,
and the sweet splendor of the now.
That is to say, oh yes
here and forever-more.
Ingrid Goff-Maidoff
from What Holds Us, New and Selected Poems and THE JOY BOOK
Ingrid Goff-Maidoff lives with her husband
and two daughters on the island of Martha’s Vineyard.
She is the author of over a dozen books of poetry and inspiration.
Her work appears in numerous national anthologies.
Ingrid,
I was just reading about joy in a book you might love. By Geri Larkin (zen teacher). Called Plant Seed, Pull Weed: Nurturing the Garden of Your Life. I wrote down this passage from it in my journal because sometimes I need reminding. Sometimes I miss the joy and I do want to experience more joy in my life.
“We don’t have to run after joy. It just shows up when we put down our negative emotions and concentrate on what is right in front of us.”
I love this…
this is a beautiful poem… as i read it over several times i found this leaping out for me today…
“Inaudible, maybe, yes…
we supply our own song.”
it reminds me that it is really just a turn… a switch inside myself and my own awareness… and it’s all right there… having gone nowhere… the song… a continuous melody… playing all the time…
Yes! Yes! Joy is here. Joy is now. Joy is infinite conscious bliss. When we touch Joy, It opens us wider than wide…..
Do you mind if I put the address of this page on my facebook page? I just uploaded a picture of a jonquil that bloomed this week at our home and this would be fitting. Also, I have a niece that could use some reminding of Joy in her Life. Again and again.
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Lory, that would be fine! It gives me pleasure to share my poems. Thank you for asking!