Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Joy



“Joy is to fun what the deep sea is to a puddle. 
It’s a feeling inside that can hardly be contained.” 


“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service.  
I acted and behold, service was joy.” ― Rabindranath Tagore



Midweek Motif  ~  Joy


Wikipedia describes "joy" as "happiness" and says that: 
Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being defined by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.[1]
That definition works for me.  Then the description continues:
A variety of biologicalpsychologicalreligious and philosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources. Various research groups, including positive psychology, are employing the scientific method to research questions about what "happiness" is, and how it might be attained.

How about that!?  

Your challenge in today's new poem is to give us an experience of joy.  Or you can "strive to define ... and identify its sources" poetically


Here are three poems to stimulate you.  

Happy New Year! 


excerpt from Joy

BY ALAN R. SHAPIRO
. . . . 
                   My lovely daughter—
walking me to the car
                                 to say goodbye   
the day I left
                      to keep watch at my brother’s
bedside—
               suddenly
                            singing “I
feel pretty, oh so
                            pretty”
                                        as she raised   
her arms up in a loose oval
                                        over her head   
and pirouetted all along the walk.
. . . .
(Read the rest HERE at the Poetry Foundation)

excerpt from The Work of Happiness

I thought of happiness, how it is woven
Out of the silence in the empty house each day
And how it is not sudden and it is not given
But is creation itself like the growth of a tree.
No one has seen it happen, but inside the bark
Another circle is growing in the expanding ring.
No one has heard the root go deeper in the dark,
But the tree is lifted by this inward work
And its plumes shine, and its leaves are glittering.
. . . . 
(Read the rest HERE at the Poetry Foundation.)




Happy as something unimportant   
and free as a thing unimportant.   
As something no one prizes
and which does not prize itself.   
As something mocked by all
and which mocks at their mockery.   
As laughter without serious reason.   
As a yell able to outyell itself.   
Happy as no matter what,
as any no matter what.

Happy
as a dog’s tail.

Anna Swir, “Happy as a Dog’s Tail” from Talking to My Body, translated by Czeslaw Milosz and Leonard Nathan, Copyright © 1996. Used [by PF with] permission of Copper Canyon Press, 

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Please share your new poem using Mr. Linky below and visit others 
in the spirit of the community.

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(Next week, Sumana's Midweek Motif will be Food!)

35 comments:

  1. Hey everyone,

    Wooooo hooooo the first Midweek motif of the year 2016 :D feels so good to be back! Sharing my poem on "Joy" hope you guys like it :D


    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  2. What a bright start to another year of midweek motif - thank you very much (not wishing to be joyless but are you teasing us with Sumana's next prompt or is it 'be' ;)

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  3. Perfect prompt to start the year. :-)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Totomai! You started the year with perfection as well.

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  4. i write poem in joy
    im happy on member poets united
    http://imagtalks.blogspot.com/2016/01/it-is-joy.html

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    Replies
    1. Welcome! I see you above in the Linky! It is a joy that you brig your poetry here and join in reading and writing with us!

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  5. Waking SLOWLY! I had so hoped the year would begin with me waking at 6. Alas! I'd either have to get to bed before 3 am or set the alarm! Happy New Year! I'm coming around to see you all . . . full of joy!

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  6. Hello everyone!
    So finally the 1st Midweek Motif of 2016. Thanks for the prompt, Susan.
    As I thought of joy, I thought of music.
    Looking forward to read all the lovely poems on joy :)

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    Replies
    1. Welcome, Purba! I'm glad we'll be spending the year together hear at PU.

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  7. Joy. A great way to start the year, Susan. We have an unusual amount of snow here, very pretty to look at and yay! I get a snow day. Looking forward to reading and HOPE I can manage to write something. Smiles.

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    Replies
    1. A snow day! Not even a trickle of it has hit Philadelphia. Yet. Maybe after a little rest, you'll spread the joy.

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  8. What a joyous prompt for the beginning of the new year!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, isn't it! Thank you for the moment you share.

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  9. I'm really enjoying writing to Poets United's prompts again. It's great to be back. :-)

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  10. Such a great topic Susan. It made me joyful just thinking about what to write. Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Myrna. Your poem is incredible!

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  11. Just entered my poem so originally named 'joy.' Thanks!

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  12. Hi everyone!
    Am happy to be participating in this joyous celebration..thank you!

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  13. I always believe, "if you can't find happiness, then create it". The prompt just did that... so thank you:)

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  14. Well! We often brood over sorrowful pasts but seldom focus on memories which bring a smile to our lips and shine to our eyes. The prompt made me introspect deeply on how to define joy and how to weave those thoughts which emanate from and exude merriment. So here it is...

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    Replies
    1. I think these poets have shown, finally that we don't overlook and under-rate joy. Thanks for taking part, vanderloost.

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    2. Thanks to you too for giving me this opportunity to find myself again in a blissful state of mind!

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  15. Helllooo everyone!! Wishing all a joyous and wonderful New Year. Beautiful n a joyous prompt indeed, Susan. Thank you.
    Am late this time.. see you later. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Pnchali! Thank you for the joy. Happy New Year.

      Delete

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