Beautiful Bittersweet Life Poems

Exploring the world of life and grief through poetry.

Tag: Joy

  • The Power of Tiny Little Joys

    The Power of Tiny Little Joys

    Inspired by Mary Catherine McDonald, PhD

    The trials of this world
    and the grief that it leaves in its wake
    often blots out the beauty that still exists.
    But joy can still be found in the simple moments of the day.
    A bunny hopping across the backyard in search of food.
    The hummingbird as it flutters from flower to flower.
    Cumulus clouds painted pink at the close of the day.
    The voice of a friend who lives far away,
    but feels like she is just around the corner as you talk on the phone.
    Walking into a meeting and feeling loved
    by those who are on the same journey that you are on.
    Finding a good book at the library,
    and then curling up in bed to read it.
    The sweet taste of your favorite
    homemade ice cream, refreshing on a hot summer day.
    Listening to a podcast that makes you laugh.
    Discovering that you can be a part of an improv group,
    where you can play and be a part of a community.
    These moments might seem minor
    in the face of the atrocities that are taking place in the world,
    but they give us the resilience to continue on life’s path.

  • Sweet Beginnings

    Sweet Beginnings

    For Jesse

    How wondrous the light of love
    that shines from the eyes of a new parent as they gaze upon the new life that
    they hold close to their heart.
    A gift created by the deep love they have for each other.
    This sweet little person,
    the picture of perfection,
    with their cute little toes and fingers,
    and their adorable face,
    possesses the power to mesmerize,
    even in those early sleep deprived days.
    For time slows down as the world
    continues its hurried pace.
    For this moment in time,
    the only thing that matters
    is the beginning of a lifelong love story

  • Strange Bed Fellows

    Strange Bed Fellows

    How they walk, hand in hand,
    forever intertwined,
    grief and joy,
    never knowing who will pop up.
    The inexplicable joy that starts
    at the crinkles of your eyes caused
    by the curving of your lips
    as they turn upwards in a smile.
    It is the warm, tingly feeling in your chest
    as your heart celebrates your friend’s good fortune
    or the beauty that surrounds you.
    The ecstasy shines out from your body
    with the strength of the summer sun.
    And you think this bliss will last forever,
    only to have grief roar in
    with the ferocity of a winter blizzard,
    causing whiteout conditions
    that make it hard to navigate
    what once was a breezy, clear day.
    The wind will chill your weary soul
    as it grasps to find its footing.
    The weight will come,
    crashing down on your chest,
    making it hard to breathe.
    Your eyes will glisten with tears,
    as the river spills down your cheeks.
    Looking up from the valley floor,
    you wonder once again,
    “How will I ever get back to the top of the hill?”
    And the amazing thing is this all
    can happen within minutes of each other.
    So, you learn to hold each hand with gentleness,
    knowing that love has knit them together
    as part of the bargain of living.