DAY 6 CHRISTMAS GOOD NEWS: WAITING FOR JOY

Waiting for Joy

I waited for that joy
you promised would come
in the morning.
It didn’t arrive.

Same old, same old.
Sackcloth on my back.
Ashes in my hair.

Why does the burden
of understanding
rest on me?
I can’t figure it out.

What’s my say in all of this?
Is everything your will?
Even the will to joy

I admit it. You win.
I can’t be happy on my own.
I dread another night.

When I closed my eyes,
You showed me
a star casting light
on a small town.

by Joanna Nicolas Na

This is a poem from Joyful Light: Modern Christian Poetry by Filipino Women, available at OMF Lit Bookshops, shop.omflit.com, Shopee, and Lazada for P225.

Joyful Light contains poems by women who have known brokenness and despair, yet continue to live with faith, nurture hope, and believe in love.

The poems explore themes such as:
Finding Joy
From Darkness to Light
Transformation
Finding Love

Also included are poetry prompts and pages on which you can write your own poetry.

Contributors:
Mich Alagao
Nathania Aritao
j.p. Berame
Najee Chua
Jireh Hong
Karen Huang
Tala Jose
Anna Lete
Joanna Na
Janina Marie Rivera