What Is the Matter With Joy?

The uncontainable smile shaped and strengthened by shadow

The soot

The pastel oils

The soft chalks of depression
Shade every moment
Highlight every joy

We stamp on it
Stomp on it
And still the flower unfurls
even in the hard gray

Unforcable
Untamed
Yet tempered by pain
Into a more glorious purpose

Hated and called false
Because of its shadow

Which shows the shape of hope
The matter of joy