today i choose to gather
dewy-fresh, not yet dried by the sun
soft green stems, unaffected by wind
bits and pieces present, but often brushed aside unnoticed.

i will gather joy, not because it is scarce, but because without it how is a life to be lived?
it is the food that sustains us, yet we try to survive
with stolen morsels, a guilty pleasure
quickly consumed lest someone else notice, then back to more important things at hand.

but what is a life without joy?
grasp it by the face and kiss its mouth.
it is companionship not only sweet but necessary to ease the cracks in our souls, to soften calloused flesh within.

i will gather joy now while it may be found
like jewels layered beneath thick autumn leaves,
not really hidden, yet inconspicuous, unseen
until you pay attention and catch the glimmer
where the sun breaks through the trees and shines,
and bending down you rustle and grasp that which sparkles to put it in your pocket.

          — let the gathering of joy become a habit.

This is the very first poem in my book “Known.” I put it there to set the tone, to somewhat summarise the ethos of its pages. The book’s not about the concept of joy specifically, but each poem is intended to encourage intentionality in the way that we live, a slowing down to notice, to pick up savour all of the bright and beautiful in the midst of the rest, to feed our souls. Just like taking a minute to read a poem!

Photo by Noah Silliman on Unsplash