Life's Crucible

Within the depth of life's crucible, we find,

A blend of experiences, intertwined;

Sunshine and shadow, a constant sway,

As we journey on, day by day.

 

Blue skies and gray, a dichotomy,

As laughter and tears shape our reality;

Hearts heavy with burdens, then light with delight,

Eyes misty with sorrow, then sparkling bright.

 

Losses and gains, in the heat of the strife,

Balancing the scales, each with their own life;

For it is through these contrasting days,

That our true selves emerge, in unique ways.

 

Into the crucible, time does it blend,

Our hopes and misgivings, fears without end;

Gladness and sadness, pleasures and pains,

Worries and comforts, losses and gains.

 

But fear not, for within this fiery mix,

Lies the potential for joy, an ember to fix;

Out of the crucible, it shall arise,

Contentment and peace, a precious prize.

 

From the depths of sorrows, anguish, and woe,

And the burdens that weigh us down as we go;

Out of the shadows, that darken our path,

And the failures that haunt us, invoking wrath.

 

Do not doubt, for within them lies the key,

To uncover true contentment, bold and free;

For when life's furnace has purified all,

We pour off the scum, to hear joy's sweet call.

 

Tinctured with sorrow, flavored with sighs,

Moistened with tears, that have flowed from our eyes;

Perfumed with sweetness of loves that have passed,

Leavened with failures, with grief's touch amassed.

 

Sacred and sweet, the joy that must come,

From the depths of the crucible, once we've undone,

The weight of the world, and shed the debris;

To find solace and light, in our hearts' sanctuary. ("Life's Crucible") by Courtney Weaver Jr.