Bread and Roses

I am determined,

within these newest days of the year,
to bring back

 parts of my normal,
where I find joy.
 I am also working on my new normal...
it will curve about in and around;

just like a meandering stream

as life goes forward.

Last year,
I wanted to continue

my writings and musings here ~
but great losses,
brought much despair
and heartache.

I couldn't find the will,

 nor the words.

The past year 

has been a fragile year for all of us. 

Many have lost work,

friends

 and

loved ones.....

huge changes and losses.

We sheltered and kept to ourselves

to be safe...

and 

we continue to do so.

As the year went on,

I was surprised 

that

my Wee Friends

and patterns

were in such demand.

~~~

Our world was being held together

by

Essential Workers...

Something,

 which was not what I was offering,

 in the least.

I had nothing in the way of needs,

 for any soul.

Art itself,

can be argued as not a need.

In fact, 

I was told by someone,

 that I once thought highly of

(well educated and well-read)

that she felt a musician

as self-serving.

That hurt for years.

I come from a family

with musical roots

as well as those in the visual arts.

 Now, I can shout, 

"Indeed, it is!!!"

But, only if you keep it to yourself 

and

 do not put it out into the Universe.

I offer

a piece of my heart.

A piece of MY joy~

in hopes that it also gives you joy.

So is it a need, 

to have joy in our hearts?

I believe so~

and

 was reminded of it this morning.

A fellow Maker of joy.

She spoke of this dilemma

as she opened her own business.

She pointed to Helen Todd,

a Suffragette.

In 1910,

Helen told the world,

"We want bread, but we want roses too!"

It later inspired the poem,

Bread and Roses

by

James Oppenheim.

So, the musician that she spoke of
was not in any way, self-serving;
but rather
a goode sharer of joy.

Sometimes we forget 

when it is hard,

to make our surroundings 

 a place to also

make or hold

joy ~