Sandra Heska King

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Choosing Joy

November 14, 2016 By Sandra Heska King

pointing-new-leaf

 

Choosing Joy

Above the sea, morning rises bruised,
mottled pink and purple,
like it did battle in the dark hours
or collided with some celestial bedpost.
I watch the sky pass through
various stages of healing until it clears.

Back at the cottage, I study
my new supply of tea leaves
with deluxious descriptors like

      Coconut Macaron
      Peach Cobbler
      Chocolate Hazelnut
      Cuddletime

Names that invite me to

      slow down
      relax
      give thanks
      and celebrate.

Maybe I feel like

      a simple green jasmine
      or Darjeeling
      or Earl Gray
      or this stray bag of Zen

What about some chai topped with a little whipped cream?

I choose Joy.

I heat some water on the stove in the red kettle,
steep the blend of jasmine flowers,
orange peel, and essence of tangerine.

Tiny geckos scatter as I follow the brick path
to the white bench under the palms
near the empty birdbath.
I curl my legs under me, lift Joy to my lips.

But it’s too weak.

 

cbto-7

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Comments

  1. Louise Gallagher says

    November 14, 2016 at 10:04 am

    There is something profoundly stirring about this post Sandra. It makes me want to reach for a cup of Joy with you so that together, it will be strong enough for both of us to savour it.

    • Sandra Heska King says

      November 14, 2016 at 11:02 am

      That would give me so much joy, Louise.

  2. Martha Orlando says

    November 14, 2016 at 12:14 pm

    Praying for stronger, deeper joy for you, my friend! Loved, loved, loved this poem!

    • Sandra Heska King says

      November 14, 2016 at 1:52 pm

      Thanks so much, friend. Hugs.

  3. Carol J. Garvin says

    November 17, 2016 at 3:15 pm

    Coming late to this post, Sandy, and loving it! Seeing your “Choosing Joy” instantly brought to mind Sara Frankl and her influence on me and how I perceive joy. I haven’t been back to her blog since the second anniversary of her death, when I wrote a post remembering her. Now I think I’ll go visit there. Maybe with a cup of tea, although my choice will be a cinnamon Chai.

    • Sandra Heska King says

      November 22, 2016 at 10:33 pm

      Coming late to respond. I read this earlier and got to thinking about Sara. Gone too soon, two months before my mom. I just visited her blog, too. And I have her book on my iPad. Maybe it’s a good time to open it again.

      Love chai. Lately I’ve been topping it with whipped cream…

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