Written during the 2020 pandemic (well, the chaos that is 2020 in general), the Defiant Joy poem series focuses on shoring up our resilience through noticing moments of joy, wonder, awe and peace while keeping our feet firmly planted in reality.

today
there is joy
in noticing
that the curled yellow
sycamore leaves still
rustle with the same dry
welcoming-winter song
they’ve murmured every
autumn for the
past twenty-five
seasons

that
while all
things change
(some in a breath)
some follow the
slow arc of time
set by mountains
and spinning
planets

life’s balance
flows tidally

our lives
are invitations
to noticing
truth.
pain.
beauty.
wonder.