The Weight of Light
I have watched the world turn bright,
a sunrise spilling gold over strangers’ roofs,
and felt the quiet swell of their laughter—
a river that runs past me, never asking
to be dammed.
Why must I be the keeper of that light,
the one who lifts another’s cloud‑filled sky,
while my own horizon stays cloaked in dusk?
What law—written in habit, whispered in prayer—
declares that joy is a gift to be given,
not a right to be claimed?
It is not that I love their smiles alone,
but that each smile is a thread in a larger tapestry,
and the loom of life shudders when a thread snaps.
When a neighbor’s smile cracks, the whole cloth trembles—
the air grows thinner, the night feels longer.
So I tend the garden of other hearts,
pruning weeds of sorrow, watering hopes with my own sighs,
because the soil beneath my feet is the same,
and the rain that falls on them also kisses my roots.
Yet in that giving, I hear a softer voice—
a reminder that the lantern I hold is not a torch to burn,
but a lamp to be lit from within.
If I keep the flame forever at the edge of others,
it will dim, a waning star unwilling to rise.
Joy, then, is not a one‑way road,
but a circular road that bends back on the traveler.
So the importance of their happiness
is a compass pointing toward a deeper truth:
to love others is to honor the echo of our own heart,
to let the world’s laughter become a chorus that carries us,
to realize that when the crowd sings, our own voice can finally join.
In the hush after the applause, I ask myself—
why must I be the keeper of others’ brightness?
Because the brightest sunrise is the one we share,
and in sharing we allow the light to touch the corners of ourselves
that have waited, patiently, for a dawn of their own.
Let the world be happy, and let me be too—
not as a selfish plea, but as a quiet promise
that the joy we sow elsewhere is the very seed
that will bloom in the garden of our own soul.
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Author:
Friendship (
Offline) - Published: March 23rd, 2026 14:04
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 27
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship, sorenbarrett, Tristan Robert Lange, sonal monhyung, NafisaSB
Offline)
Comments6
A most marvelous poem that drips with goodness. It speaks of giving and the joy of giving and that all is circular the good one gives comes back. Love this not that it happens directly but indirectly a type of karma. Very nicely written it carries me with it and is a fave
Thank you, Soren. I'm deeply grateful you took the time to read my poem and grasped its essence perfectly. Your thoughtful comment is truly valued and cherished.
You are most welcome my friend
If I was still teaching poetry I would say ... 'Here Is Your Poem'
"Let the world be happy, and let me be too—
not as a selfish plea, but as a quiet promise
that the joy we sow elsewhere is the very seed
that will bloom in the garden of our own soul."
Thank you, Kurt, I'm deeply grateful you took the time to read my poem. My dad's wisdom has been a guiding light for me - to express myself truly, I must create with sincerity. Though it only took 2 days to pen these words, your comment means the world to me, for it validates my vulnerability. I penned this poem to reveal my authentic self, to show the world that I'm not about self-aggrandizement, but about being genuine, and I appreciate your understanding.
I note you have this classified as unclassified .. well I would argue and re-classify it as incredibly beautiful .. but don't say a word, its classified information .. Neville
Thank you, Neville. You're absolutely right, there are no words, no comment, no nothing, but thank you profoundly for investing your precious time to read my poem; I was merely crafting a piece about my own journey.
Friendship, this moves beautifully between outward care and inward need…holding both without dismissing either. “A lamp to be lit from within” and that final promise of shared joy really bring it together. It’s not about choosing one over the other…it’s about balance. Thoughtful and grounded, dearest friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
What law—written in habit, whispered in prayer—
declares that joy is a gift to be given,
not a right to be claimed?
amen, sister
wonderful message - let's care and share, and we will definitely benefit, and receive in return
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