Joy Poem by Daniel Trevelyn Joseph

To me,

Every moment is joy,
Every place is joy,
Every creature is joy,

When I walk under blue or clouded sky,
When I pass by a slum in Mumbai,
Visit Pong Yong lake in Leh, flashing
Its seventeen colors from this bank to that,

When I see compound of middle income society
In Bandra East, close to my house,
Sporting a badam tree, an exotic palm,
An ashoka tree, and a Christmas tree all together
Although the leaves are all brown with dust,

When I enjoy my full faculties
Even when it means hearing criticism
Or being aware of pain somewhere in the back.

For years, since I taught English
As lecturer in SVN College of Madurai,
I have given as example for life
A glass of milk
With poison drops two or three,
In the shape of pain, poverty or death.

Now, I have grown up.

Have Zen, and Osho
Made me what I am?
No, joy has always been there
It is only the discovery now.
They are fingers
Pointing to the Moon
Of my delight.

D T Joseph
16.02.08