FINDING JOY - a sestina

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Tom Watson
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FINDING JOY - a sestina

Post by Tom Watson » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:50 pm

How many of us have truly known the happiness
That unexpectedly gently slips into our hearts through a friendship?
Who among us saw the clouds destroyed by a sudden beam of joy?
Maybe those honest enough to offer forgiveness,
Or some, knowing the rule, who gave to make the lost hopeful…
All who have offered the aged a smile or raised the spirit of a child.

And whose heart was stirred and riled by the starving face of a child
And then was blessed by giving the gift of food, love and new happiness…?
Who here has walked in lights dull, to the homeless, no longer hopeful,
Until he knelt to where the gutter dripped and offered a hand in friendship?
Who here has been hurt by the careless only to lift them in forgiveness,
And taken from them guilt they could not enjoy and offered them the light of joy?

How many of us have neighbors who always annoy, with whom we still try to share our joy?
Have any of us allowed greed to make us spoiled, ignoring the empty plate of the child…?
Are there any who have turned from the world’s mess and still blindly expect forgiveness?
Have we forgotten the path is blessed we pave before us with happiness?
The need of our enemies is too simple to skip…they only require our hand in friendship,
And patience, and understanding until, even they may be more hopeful.

Why would we walk with stomach full when others without shelter are not hopeful
For another week or day employed, another moment of their child’s eyes filled with joy…?
How could we claim with our lips, our love and constant friendship
To those we demean in words soiled, who struggle to survive with a fatherless child?
It is the world that want’s our lives a mess, to destroy the love that brings happiness.
And it is the Lord that, without rest, is there to lift us with His forgiveness…

Through His pain and sacrifice He offers us forgiveness…
In spite of uncertainty of a mind dulled, He makes us hopeful,
And provides in His blessedness, the way to true happiness…
No matter the evil one’s methods employed, His path is filled with joy
Even though in our life we lived untamed and wild…through Him we will be as a child,
And His love will surpass kinship and His glory will endure beyond friendship.

So, when a heart is in loneliness’ grip, reach your hand out in friendship.
When you think someone’s actions caused you distress, fill your heart with forgiveness…
When cries of hunger are heard over the miles, shelter and nourish the lost child.
When life is empty leaving no goals, take a hand and again make a heart hopeful.
For when you do these things He sees, He will fill your heart with heaven’s joy,
For as you have done for the distressed, you have given Him glory and happiness.

Truly I say the true secret to happiness contains the compassion of forgiveness.
Beyond the golden rule and bounds of friendship, love lifts us to be hopeful,
And forever, as given in His style, joy will reign in our hearts with the manger’s child.
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"Whispers of Love" a book of poetry expressing love of the heart and spirit is released worldwide on August 11, 2009. Visit my home page at
Books From Grace for more information or Amazon.com

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heinzs
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Re: FINDING JOY - a sestina

Post by heinzs » Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:07 am

:bow: :bow:
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An' it harm none, do what ye will. Blessed Be.
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nekot
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Re: FINDING JOY - a sestina

Post by nekot » Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:52 pm

Beautiful Tom, beautiful.

I agree with Heinz....

:bow: :bow:
~eloquently scattered~
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Tom Watson
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Re: FINDING JOY - a sestina

Post by Tom Watson » Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:16 pm

Ahh, HeinzS and Nekot, so sorry for my negligence in not responding to your kindnesses in a timely manner.. :oops: .
Thank you both so much!

Tom
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"Whispers of Love" a book of poetry expressing love of the heart and spirit is released worldwide on August 11, 2009. Visit my home page at
Books From Grace for more information or Amazon.com

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Debbie
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Re: FINDING JOY - a sestina

Post by Debbie » Wed Apr 15, 2009 2:59 pm

Penned by the master....truly this one is so true, and gives us so much to ponder on.
An awesome write dear friend..I'm glad I came across this one.. :thewave: :thewave: :bow: :bow: :hello:
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Tom Watson
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Re: FINDING JOY - a sestina

Post by Tom Watson » Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:54 pm

Thank you :angel: Debbie. I always feel blessed when I see you visiting.

Tom
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"Whispers of Love" a book of poetry expressing love of the heart and spirit is released worldwide on August 11, 2009. Visit my home page at
Books From Grace for more information or Amazon.com

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