Nearly Joy Poem by Wyatt Epple

A shining light of hopeful love
Has blossomed in my heart
As feelings of a darkened past
Diminish.
Hopelessness and chaotic blood
Shall not remain a crucial part
Of my existence.
And although I shall remember,
I shall not be burdened by my past weaknesses
And trespasses.
Now, a glorious day awakens to greet me,
And this time, she is not grimacing.
Nor is she smirking.
She looks upon me and sees change,
Sees love
Sees freedom.
Freedom from the shackles of guilt, from the bondage of fear.
Freedom from hate itself, or rather, hating itself.
She sees the hope that for far too long,
I dared not hope.
The hope for happiness.

(10/22/10)