Today I will
write a poem
about bittersweet joy
It will not be meant to sway you with metaphor.
It will not be toxic
or double-edged
or dramatic.
But rather about the joy that
breaks your heart
just a little piece though.
But rather the laughing 8 year old
trying to figure out what
fitting in means.
But rather the birthday girl watching her
mermaid balloon fly into the clouds
all the grown-ups around suddenly a team of distractors.
But rather groups of teachers
together problem solving and laughing too
because adversity needs humor,
because humor creates belonging.
But rather the friend of a friend
leaning forward with understanding to whisper
“It’s hard to listen to something
so riddled with untruth.”
I’m looking for poetry challenges. Today I wrote inspired by “To Elegize or Not to Elegize” on Ethical ELA.
On a Thought 
It’s Keely, right-? I’ve just now realized: Your posts on Ethical ELA come up as “Ona” for On a Thought! I read your poem there a few moments ago and left this comment…
So many lines glitter like jewels here! What an interesting topic, bittersweet joy, I especially love the little piece of the heart breaking with it, and these lines: “Because adversity needs humor/because humor creates belonging.” This is true! Every scene you have captured here imparts a stab of bittersweet joy in its “realness.”
Hi! I can’t figure out why my other account is the one that comes up on ethical ela! A strange word press thing.
But although I have a bff named Keely, my name is Ona! Maybe the early- no-coffee yet is making me misunderstand the start of your comment. Lol.
Anyway thank you so much! I appreciate the comment- and the fact that you commented here and there!