Joy and Grief by Sarah L. Frantz

Joy and Grief, arms intertwined,
dance the dance of this wild world.

Joy ascends to mountains high, while
Grief resides in valley low.

She reaches down and takes the hand,
they twirl and twirl until they stand
upon the plain of Jezreel
and are planted by His able hand.
And when rebirths appointed time has come,
they grow and change to deeper hue.

Joy sprouts and vines engulfing all,
purple flowers laden so.

Grief has a more perfect work becoming a mighty oaken tree,
for shelter for the resting ones,
the broken ones,
rocking on boughs so great.

Joy and Grief remain fast friends,
the fragrance of Joy’s blooms shifting on the breeze
to those at rest under Grief’s great tree.

My name is Sarah Frantz and I’ve been married for 30 years. We raised and homeschooled five children, four girls, and one boy right in the middle. We are now enjoying the fruit of this work, six fun, and feisty grandchildren. My husband and I live on the outskirts of Tulsa in the Cross Timbers of Oklahoma on ten acres. I have recently completed a Christian fantasy novel.