That may depend on whether
the chaos is self-created
or random, but then again
it might depend more
on the particular kind of chaos,
no matter where it originates,
because there are some
we can cope with, such as
a sudden rainstorm, or
the clean-up after a party,
and some we can even, yes, rejoice in,
like watching an out-of-nowhere
influx of shooting stars, or like
the wild, merry dancing
at the aforesaid party: a crowd
of people somewhat tipsy
and very festive, loving the music;
and then there’s the chaos
we all want to run away from —
the pandemics, the wars,
the natural disasters, those
from which we long for a saviour …
and there’s the chaos that follows
after we elect who we think
is just such a saviour, and that one
begins to actually do the things
that were promised, and then
we see what that looks like
and feels like, and we realise:
No, there is no joy in this.
Written for Friday Writings #162: Joy In Chaos at Poets and Storytellers United.
I agree some chaos can be welcome - others most definitely not - you certainly travel us through them - I particularly like the stars - Jae
ReplyDeleteYes, I think they're the best in this list. :)
DeleteChaos is OK to an extent but you still need to think you can deal with it.
ReplyDeleteA lie we tell ourselves?
DeleteYes, you've covered the options so well...after 15 months of seeing heartbreaking visuals from the war, I had to find ways to literally cultivate joy. Not just wait for it to appear while writing or reading but actively grow it...it doesn't work very well...there is no joy in chaos, but we learn to cope. Have to.
ReplyDeleteThat's very sobering!
DeleteNo joy in this. But at least there are breaks where we live our lives and find joy elsewhere. Thank you for understanding.
ReplyDeleteYes, Colleen, we do all need to take those breaks to find joy elsewhere. I remember the words of the Desiderata: 'With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.'
DeleteClean up after a party?...no way! Influx of shooting stars...yes !
ReplyDeleteI didn't say we like the clean up, only that it's cope-able with. (Grin.) The stars seem to appeal to many of us.
Deletei guess that's a really hard question to answer, and my first instinct is to say no. But with chaos can come order, a broken system replaced. And there are the happier things that you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very interesting point, about the order that may follow chaos. A necessary breaking down before rebuilding?
Deleteyes, that's it. :)
DeleteYou make a clear distinction! Maybe just a bit of chaos.
ReplyDeleteYes, we wouldn't want too much of it. (But we don't always get to choose.)
DeleteModeration in all things!
ReplyDeleteEven in chaos, LOL.
Delete