We imagined
our joy would come
with the conclusion
of our hard efforts,
with the attainment
of our long-strived-for prize
But in fact
our joy had been there
hiding in the bands of shadow
of our suspense,
slipping into the footsteps
of our work,
stalking us
Not waiting for the finish
but for us to notice
it was right there with us
ready to slide around
shafts of hope
into the sunlight.
©Wendy Mulhern
March 5, 2015
like the poem, kinda scared of the title. I too am ready to slide around in the shafts of hope in the sunlight! Thank you!
yeah, I guess choosing that title was as a kind of reclaiming of the word (besides being a pun with the noun “stalks”.) I think good things sometimes need to sneak up on us in order for us to let them reach us . . .