Joie de vivre …

The fragrance of a rose
Happiness that I chose
Thorns when I did weep
But smile I chose to keep
Life sure has its ways
I search for bliss all days

Black were few dark days
Yet light from ashes rose
Showed the right ways
And those ways I chose
Ease I wanted to keep
But joy made me weep

For what made me weep
Made me strong each day
Strength that I could keep
Like the thoughts of rose
Beauty of petals I chose
And I saw beauty of ways

In each of these ways
I foresaw, nearing a weep
To move forward, I chose
And with each new day
Life blossomed like rose
A visual joy I could keep

When joy I could keep
No tears fell in my ways
Hope from within, rose
Nothing made me weep
New dreams every day
To pursue them, I chose

Satisfied in what I chose
Sure what I should keep
In the soon coming days
Laughter forged its ways
I’ve forgotten how to weep
Beautiful is my life’s rose

Only I chose, these ways
Smile to keep, never weep
With each day, joys rose

Joie de vivre, C’est la vie



For ABC Wednesday – J for Joiedevivre
For One Single Impression – Joiedevivre
Also submitted to One Shot Wednesday

Images:
Above: Image Source
Below: White Rose by artist Yokopoko, Deviantart

Poetry & writing to me are to me, a breath of fresh air in a life that is sometimes covered by the smoke of sorrow or self doubt. They also become the sweets I share to celebrate when life offers me a reason to. But most of all, they are to me, my life. For each word I write is a piece of my heart, a thought that just had to find its way into the world.

102 thoughts on “Joie de vivre …”

  15. smiles. it is so easy to let the thorns dig in and ruin the beauty of the moment…keep hanging onto that joy…it will take you far…nice write…nice one shot!

    • yes, its easy to fall to the thorns, Brian.. but to go past the pierced thorn and move on in life, well that’s a challenge, isn’t it? 🙂 glad you liked it, and will get to your shot soon!

  16. The joy of life, life as a rose and the play of meaning with the rose occurs in every language and with every heritage there is a fascination with the rose. I believe we respond in a very intuitive way to the rose as it offers something to every sense and something deeper to the psyche. We observe its relationship to the cosmos and the atom. No wonder it symbolizes so much. No wonder you used it in such a personal way. Thank you, Gay

    • thank you very much, Write Girl.. yes, Sestina is quite difficult for sure.. but always fun to attempt..!
      glad you felt I pulled it off.. thanks for getting inspired I think 🙂

  24. Beautiful is my life’s rose…..it does not get any better than that….there is always beauty after a storm…..very nice..bkm

  27. The rose and her soft beauty an inspiration for poetry. You did her proud

    Thanks for coming by to One Shot and leaving a rose.

    moon smiles

  28. Whenever I have been very happy, I have wept.. it helps cleaning of eyes and one can see the images of happiness more clearly..

    a very beautiful poem, Leo.. you are a magician with words. . no no actually your thoughts are magical…

  29. A nice, soft and beautiful poetry… reminds me of a poem by Robert Frost, read ages ago…

    The rose is a rose,
    And was always a rose.
    But now the theory goes
    That the apple’s a rose,
    And the pear is, and so’s
    The plum, I suppose.
    The dear only knows
    What will next prove a rose.
    You, of course, are a rose–
    But were always a rose.

    ROBERT FROST

    Shashi
    ॐ नमः शिवाय
    Om Namah Shivaya
    Connect with me on Twitter @VerseEveryDay

  36. Beautiful poem! I especially like

    Strength that I could keep
    Like the thoughts of rose
    Beauty of petals I chose
    And I saw beauty of ways

    🙂

  42. Fine contribution to One Shot Wednesday, Leo. Took some perserverance to do this, I think. Nice structure … Nice theme … and emphasis on choice is particulary appreciated.

    Exquisite photographs. Just lovely …

  51. Ooooh LEO,
    this was brilliant. Now i know what you meant. The envoi I have completely bungled up..Thanks for this Leo..And your Sestina is almost like a classic to go down in history. So simple yet a lesson to learn from..exquisite! 😀

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