Joy: noun, the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires
my middle name is joy
even when my skin
feels as if it is on fire
begging for a long forgotten blade
it is joy when the weight of expectation
and injustice
lies heavy on my shoulders
often until my muscles shake
my middle name sits
in between my shoulder blades
a gift given to me by my parents
it sits there steeling my posture
when i am told i cannot
it sits in my stomach
when the butterflies come
when i see your beautiful face
my middle name is sewn into my backbone
a soft word for a hard person
it is joy when i walk out into the sun
feeling it’s rays warming my scarred skin
my middle name is a promise
to live
it is the freedom that fills my lungs
with each breath
my middle name is Joy
it is all i wish to bring
- photo by author
- This is my own work and has not been generated in whole or in part by AI

This was a beautiful expression of self love and gave me a warm feeling.