We taste every word twice
in the aftermath
of our afflictions,
guzzling down granite,
gorging on grit.

If only we instead,
savored the jubilation
found in joy.
Taking extreme care
to feast on the days,
the ones leading up
to all those tumultuous times.

Seems like the aftershock
of our tribulations
wouldn’t be half
as hard to swallow.
And maybe we’d finally
be able to digest the qualms,
which plague our hearts
and hold us in oppression.

© 2020 Michelle Cook

Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/blue-wall-wall-flower-stone-wall-3931444/