My friend Joy

There I was searching for pain

And pain you were there

But you were not alone when I found you here

Was I insane

I knew the pain

For I had been making friends with her everywhere

Whenever I looked I knew you would be there

But today you brought a friend or were my thoughts inane

Pain you introduced your friend

I recognized the friend once I saw her there

I knew that I had seen here before somewhere

In this moment she was a godsend

I had come to know her as someone who could transcend

But she had been more than I could bear

I wanted to offer her a prayer

For joy I needed again to befriend

The thing about pain is how easily we spot it, attach to it and keep it in the forefront. Indeed, becoming obsessed with it is not that hard. It underlines addiction to substances and behaviours. It is the very thing we so often seek to escape. Yet, we keep it close to us like our best friend who can't stop hurting us.

If we open up to joy we can also find joy present. It does not take pain away but gives us another place of focus - an alternative to gaze upon. It is the friend we need to invite back. Like the bud in the picture, it may be hidden just waiting to come out.

© Peter Choate 2016