Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Joy (Poem)

                  Joy

I stake my joy
        not in wanderings

in your or somebody else's dreams
        nor in busy half-thoughts crowding

spaces where I rail or mean
        to be, but in the embrace
 
of my unfinished shadow
        reminding me that to watch

listen, and unhand old fears
        is to breathe out the blessing

that begins and ends
        in the alleluia I deserve to hear.

© 2010 Maureen E. Doallas. All Rights Reserved.
__________________________________________


This poem is for the Tuesday, May 4, Blog Carnival sponsored by Bridget Chumbley at One Word at a Time and Peter Pollock of Rediscovering the Church.

The Blog Carnival is a biweekly online event open to anyone. Participants write on a one-word prompt or topic. This week's is "joy".

Go here for a list of links  to all of the contributions, which are posted throughout Tuesday and often through to the end of the week.

The Blog Carnival's FaceBook page is here.
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14 comments:

  1. Louise GallagherMay 4, 2010 at 8:45 AM

    You made my heart sing this morning.

    What a joyful sound!

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  2. Jenne' R. Andrews May 4, 2010 at 12:19 PM

    Exquisite poem, Maureen. I absolutely love what I keep thinking of as a cascading of your lines toward completion of the poem. This poem is very whole, and filled with light-- brava! xj

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  3. AnonymousMay 4, 2010 at 1:22 PM

    i am hearing the words today...

    listen,
    and unhand old fears

    ReplyDelete
  4. S. EtoleMay 4, 2010 at 2:33 PM

    "in the embrace of my unfinished shadow ..." beautiful

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  5. GlynnMay 4, 2010 at 2:36 PM

    And you deserve to hear that alleluia because you are made in His image and He made you to hear it. Beautiful poem, Maureen.

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  6. Anne Lang BundyMay 4, 2010 at 4:01 PM

    to breathe out the blessing ...

    (my favorite line)

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  7. Russell HollowayMay 4, 2010 at 9:30 PM

    unfinished shadows ... I like that a lot.

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  8. JoAnne BennettMay 4, 2010 at 9:49 PM

    thought-provoking poem Maureen. I especially liked your verses below.

    "listen, and unhand old fears
    is to breathe out the blessing"

    Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment on my blog.

    JoAnne

    ReplyDelete
  9. Kathleen OverbyMay 4, 2010 at 11:25 PM

    I was waiting to exhale softly throughout. Simply lovely in structure, nuance, and essence.

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  10. Monica SharmanMay 4, 2010 at 11:44 PM

    Ahh, this part:

    "nor in busy half-thoughts crowding

    spaces where I rail or mean
    to be,"

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousMay 5, 2010 at 1:32 AM

    Lovely words, Maureen. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Diane WalkerMay 5, 2010 at 3:41 PM

    I really really like this one -- and it turns out to be a perfect response for a friend who is learning she needs to be responsible for her own joy. Thank you!

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  13. TriciaMay 5, 2010 at 6:52 PM

    Very pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  14. caryjoMay 6, 2010 at 3:44 PM

    Very thoughtful.

    ReplyDelete