Thread: Tears into Joy

Tears contained within the eyes
are reserved for moments such as these ~
The heavings of a hundred sighs
are held inside for this fitting time ~
The placing of the hands over the face
alone and in silence, is meant
for such grave matters, for such resounding grief ~
The arching of the shoulders, down
in solemn manner, is shown
when heavy and weary seasons come ~

And come they do, but not often,
maybe once in a life, in a slow tide
steady and rolling, quiet and deepening
dark and oppressive, then crashing and drowning ~
O in the waters rising, no sound, no light!
O in the silence and darkness, how breathing falters!

Yet behold above, a Hope, a single Star gleaming
faintly noticed, and yet growing brighter
filling the sky, and bringing Music!
O Brilliant Song of Deepest Hopes Fulfilled!
Darkness has not conquered,
nor deafening silence prevailed!

O Trustful Patience, through you Light and Joy return!
The hands from face are lifted, and the tears glisten
in eyes opening, gazing upward
enchanted by tidings unforeseen!
With sighs of Love, the body arises
strong with Hope emerging anew!
O tears of Gladness, flow you sweetly
and with serenity fill the World!

This one is for those who have suffered some form of grief in life - and who hasn't?

The end seemed somewhat empty to me. I feel like it lack resolve because I don't know why there is hope, and it's left up to speculation as to where the hope comes and how. I really enjoyed it up until the end; it relates in a way that makes me think about grief at a different angle.

Originally Posted by Isaiah Lake

The end seemed somewhat empty to me. I feel like it lack resolve because I don't know why there is hope, and it's left up to speculation as to where the hope comes and how. I really enjoyed it up until the end; it relates in a way that makes me think about grief at a different angle.

Funny how subjective poetry is - another person told me that the last two lines were her favorite, then I see that those same lines struck you differently.

Of course, this is a personal piece, and is borne out of personal adversity - to explicitly delineate the Source of Hope at those times, when all hope seems lost, seemed to me to verge on being too "preachy" and didactic, which I try to avoid at all costs in my poems - we must work through our own sorrow, and find hope and strength to move beyond it - but we are not alone

I like how the piece becomes so hopeful towards the end, I'm a sucker for happy endings. I hate feeling that there is no hope and so your poem left me feeling optimistic, thank you for that. I enjoyed this one a lot, toddm.

Originally Posted by Gumby

I like how the piece becomes so hopeful towards the end, I'm a sucker for happy endings. I hate feeling that there is no hope and so your poem left me feeling optimistic, thank you for that. I enjoyed this one a lot, toddm.

thanks - glad you enjoyed it - our world needs a bit more happiness and hope
and some of the best happiness comes after sorrow, which the world is not short of

---todd