Shiver of Joy

When joy presents itself
in a shiver
it is time to sigh
and pay attention
to moment after moment
lined up in a row

like days of the week
or the slow consumption of a meal;
course after delicious course,
satisfied completely
until finally you stop waiting
for something to go wrong.

The pendent breath
is the breath wasted;
giving away our riches
to the nothingness of the past
or uncertainty of the future.

Instead, let joy
be the house of prayer
where we worship
the moment
where we touch
God's face
while we look
into the eyes
of our beloved
friend
and smile
at that holy union.