Tickell Expressions

Tuesday 28 May 2019

Choose Joy


Louis Armstrong was born to a 16-year-old mother, abandoned by his father and raised by his grandmother until he was 5 years old. Growing up in the early 20th century, he faced poverty, violence and discrimination. Yet, he chose joy. Look at that face. What a wonderful face. What a wonderful attitude. When this song was first recorded, there were difficulties (An ABC Records president tried to stop it. Train whistles interrupted it twice.) so the work stretched from 2-6 a.m., after Louis' midnight show. Yet Louis laughed off the interruptions and chose to receive a lesser than average rate so the orchestra could be paid for their overtime work. He chose joy.

I wrote this poem recently and would like to share it with you.


JOY
By Teresa Arsenault ©2019

Joy beckons in nuances of colour and form
Shell-pink pearlized or dazzling shades of orange
A soft entreaty or blaring right out loud
A blaze of coloured sky
Or single ray within a cloud
Joy embraces, Joy salutes
Bear hug or softest kiss
Joy greets in lively shouts
Her whispers often missed
Walk with joy on stumbling ground
Or join in vibrant stride
She waits for you on every path
And vigils by your side
Choose joy, wondrous joy
Her intentions ever kind
Love joy when she’s apparent
Seek when she’s hard to find
Joy is a cheery companion
In sorrow a closest friend
Choose to love, choose to believe
Hold Joy until the end


May you choose joy today.
Blessing hugs,
Teresa