Emotional Extremes

Frustration is reaching, yet not getting;

leaning over an edge, and not falling.

Gazing at the letters, unable to read,

reading the story, but not grasping it.

Jumping, and hitting ground, not flying.

Frustration is climbing strong trees,

and branches breaking under us,

grating nutmeg without the scent.

Eating chocolate, unable to taste,

living without experiencing sadness.

Frustration is saying something,

but no one hears or understands.

Hearing others say important things,

yet unable to comprehend it at all.

Smiling without happiness or humor.

Frustration is losing your wings

and forgetting you know how to fly.

-----------------------------------------------------

Joy is a stream, flowing over pebbles

a piece of broken green glass bottle,

That sparkling, smiles in the sunlight.

Joy is the graffiti scrawled on trains,

moving rainbow colors on otherwise

drab boxes, all letters ending with x.

Joy is a loved, smiling face caught

In a clear, iridescent glass marble.

Upside-down distorted, but familiar.

Joy is a dandelion, golden bee-nectar

blooming between a concrete wall

and a brick alley, in a little bit of soil.

Joy is a baby, just learning to run,

before falling, child learning to cook,

before the first burning accident.

Joy is hot coffee with ice cream

shared in the mornings in bed,

with someone who loves it too.

Joy is a raindrop, hitting a window

breaking into a thousand drops,

unable to reach me at all.

Coziness...