Ije Nwata

Piece by Ruth Torty

In my head,

Emotions are a wide spectrum of colors,

I try not to always fall in love with them,

Still, I try.

I try to not let the realities of life,

Stifle out the joy of a new shade.

Days seem to forget,

how they must morph into night.

Their stress-filled tentacles,

Cause my head to ache,

And wearies my soul.

Though we must rest,

Adulthood presses burdens on us,

I want to hold on to my innocence,

But that threatens the routine of life.

I am picking the pebbles of happiness,

On every rugged uncomfortable path,

On this journey called growing up and adulting it.

Joy has an unassuming fragrance,

I cannot catch the scent,

But my inner child knows its path.

If I searched more diligently,

At the Creator’s throne,

Would I really not find joy?