Promptly Poetry

My Joy

"Tell us about a joyful moment in your life."
I stand, tongue-tied. What is joy, anyway?
Did I ever really feel it?
Contentment, yes, mostly when I'm alone;
Peaceful solitude is my favorite.
To read, write, listen and create
Works and words of art for myself and others.
But joy?
Is it the same as happiness?
I long gave up on the fleeting thing called happiness.
As a kid I even told myself:
"The idea of happiness is a trick
To make you unhappy with the present moment.
Always seeking some greater high,
Another fix of entertainment or vain delight."
I often wonder if that conclusion
Cheated me out of being a more light-hearted person
Than my rather saturnine self.
The joy of accomplishment, perhaps?
I don't consider myself a very accomplished person, unfortunately:
Many have achieved far more than me at my age.
There are the stories I've written, however:
Those are goals I've reached, month after month.
My favorite example:
Eighteen stories in two months for a project,
Tales spun off of a favorite musical album.
I doubted my ability to complete it,
And felt delightful pride when it was done.
Out of the collection, at least six won awards.
I learned so much, rode a massive wave of creativity.
It's my baby.
So, each story I complete,
Each contest I successfully submit to
Anything I receive from the community
Is a little bit of joy.
A sense of ability, of companionship, of learning,
Of something to plan for and look forward to,
In what's otherwise a disorganized and chaotic life.
That, for me, is joy.

38 lines, 268 words, free verse.

Prompt: describe a joyful life experience of yours.
At least 12 lines
No form requirements

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