This poem reflects on the fleeting nature of earthly joy, the guilt that sometimes follows happiness, and the longing for a place where joy is pure and unburdened. It is part of my ongoing poetic exploration of life’s paradoxes.
Ding dong, ding dong—
a sound that turns a yellow heart of the day
to blue overnight,
an overjoyed feeling slips quietly
into a mood filled with guilt of
the unconscious crime of a joyful mind.
A week swollen with appetite,
the hunger to consume everything,
followed by days of refusal
where food awaits
and desire does not come.
A closed mouth
with an hungry stomach.
A mood as extrovert as the sanguine,
suddenly a melancholic mind
seeking nothing but the safety of its shell,
as temporary as the earth
an evidence of paradise
where joy bears no guilt.
In reflecting on my life, I noticed how temporary happiness can be. I believe this is true not only for me, but for many others as well. This realization led to the writing of this poem.
Poetry often reveals what words struggle to hold. Did any line or feeling linger with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
