Joy Within Sorrow

A caged Me slips free
From all the shackles that bind me
Hope whispers, "Well done!" from her cell.
All who fell with me,
Here as well,
Murmur the same.
Twas for us they fell.

Each I need,
Fellow prisoners of mine,
But Hope, always, always
Comes first in line.
Without Hope,
Our strength wears thin.
Without Hope,
We will never begin.
But with her,
We can't help but win.

I eluded my bonds.
Now escaping my cage
By means of Tenacity
And calm, channeled Rage,
I raise my fist to set the stage
To liberate Hope, and by her, a new Page.
But Hope's glance so soothing,
I become un-moving.
Says Hope, "Hold to Tenacity,
But let go of Rage!"

Rage taking my will,
I sense she's right.
I put my Rage
Under the light.
Hell's demons writhe
Within Rage.
They've held to me
While I held to them,
Unaware that, myself,
I'd condemn.
Decades-deep poison
Rage held inside.
Rage ends now.
I cast it aside.

Hope, and all her kin
Are jailed, but I begin
Setting them free.
One by one,
Each freed from her cell.
Never thought I
That I'd be made well
But thanks to God's children,
Gone is my hell.

Never have heaven's angels
Quit on me.
Hope.
Love.
Compassion.
Faith.
Charity.
Serenity.
Balm Personified.
Joy.

Angels, and their protectors,
Gather all round.
Angels: my sisters.
Protectors: my brothers,
Who, also, long stand with me.
Strength.
Courage.
Tenacity, himself, always close by.
Focus.
Drive.
Indomitable, too,
Never,
Never,
Never ceases to try.

Ever for my safety
Have they tried to, me, free.
Now angels and demons
Go toe to toe.
Embattled Me, I again know
Of the worth God places
In His offspring.
Embattled Me, I now go
To the Gold Throne
Angels and Protectors in tow,
Having thrown down their opponents.
They follow me close.
A most encouraging, much-needed dose
Of confidence given by their proximity.
I bow down before the maker of me,
Hoping that He'll make all Embattled We
Worthy of Joy.  Her Author is He.
Hope takes my hand, as she has before.
By God's own command,
She leads me to Joy.  I can hardly stand
It.  About to burst
For all that feels wonderful,
All for which I thirst-
Joy within sorrow, and joy after sins.
A new chapter, a new book,
A new life begins.

Adam Scott Campbell