Thursday, June 25, 2009

Being Joyful II




'Tis so much joy! 'Tis so much joy!
If I should fail, what poverty!
And yet, as poor as I,
Have ventured all upon a throw!
Have gained! Yes! Hesitated so —
This side the Victory!

Life is but Life! And Death, but Death!
Bliss is but Bliss, and Breath but Breath!
And if indeed I fail,
At least, to know the worst, is sweet!
Defeat means nothing but Defeat,
No drearier, can befall!

And if I gain! Oh Gun at Sea!
Oh Bells, that in the Steeples be!
At first, repeat it slow!
For Heaven is a different thing,
Conjectured, and waked sudden in —
And might extinguish me!

--Emily Dickinson

Joy does not come without a struggle. In fact, joy often bursts forth in our struggle.

5 comments:

Opaque said...

"Joy does not come without a struggle"- Very true!

Judith Ellis said...

I think so, Ajey.

DB said...

Judith, thank you for these beams of light.

DB

Judith Ellis said...

My pleasure, DB.

Ryan Freed said...

@Brosreview, completely agree with you.