∴
Joy must be courted.
Shy, elusive, hesitant,
she shrinks from brash grasping.
The desperate and the howling miss her timid whispers.
Joy cannot be commanded or held fast.
She slips into the quiet space
opened for her by breath
and surrender.
Joy must be wooed
with no expectation of relief or transformation.
She comes in small ways
and in small acts;
a moment of forgetting,
lost time in the act of creation,
a companion’s purr.
And though our instinct is to clutch at her
to keep from drowning,
we must let go,
and allow her to hold us
in her own way.
∴
SandySue Altered
A Mind Divided 
Sep 13, 2016 @ 07:36:57
Your poem is lush with language that so beautifully describes elusive joy.
Sep 13, 2016 @ 11:58:41
Such kindness from my poet-friend.
Sep 13, 2016 @ 07:40:35
Beautiful! 😊
Sep 13, 2016 @ 11:58:21
Thanks, friend.
Sep 13, 2016 @ 07:44:15
W.O.W
This poem here caught me off guard, she got me, in her own way.
I like how you referred to joy as ‘she’
This is sublime, spoke to my soul.
Sep 13, 2016 @ 11:57:58
Bless you.
Sep 13, 2016 @ 12:17:01
Bless YOU…
Sep 13, 2016 @ 08:17:45
this photo took me on a ‘trip’ back into the Future’ about the time of the 50s…..maybe older.. thanks, Sandy Sue.
Sep 13, 2016 @ 11:59:45
Now I’m so curious. Can you say more?
Sep 13, 2016 @ 08:23:10
I like the territoriality!
Sep 13, 2016 @ 11:59:05
Talk some more about that.
Sep 13, 2016 @ 12:15:34
The wonder of animal so presumptuous as to occupy any space he/she chooses, then withholding the tiny satisfaction us owners crave. But they give themselves away by their territoriality. The expression of love we want is not necessarily what they convey, but they convey something deeper by their comfort in our (excuse me, their) space.
Sep 13, 2016 @ 16:48:50
Ah, I see. We are part of a cat’s territory. Yes, I believe that. They tolerate us as long as we provide useful service.
I wouldn’t categorize Joy in the same way, though. In my experience, she has to be coaxed into proximity. Her normal territory is outside my realm.
Sep 13, 2016 @ 12:58:01
A beautiful image and reflection, say I and my purring companions. 🙂
Sep 13, 2016 @ 16:44:49
Thanks ever so.
Sep 13, 2016 @ 14:39:03
I hear she can be fickle. Best wishes with your courtship.
Sep 13, 2016 @ 16:44:26
Just shy, in my experience.
Sep 13, 2016 @ 16:54:38
Wonderful.
Sep 13, 2016 @ 17:57:14
thanks