In a recent conversation
with a friend about
my writing career
and all the
rejection and disappointment
that it can sometimes involve
he reminded me
of the definition of insanity
being the act of doing something over and over again
expecting different results
and at first I agreed
perhaps art making is insane
perhaps putting myself out there in the way that I do
pouring my heart out
onto the page
and sending it out
for it to turned down
or ignored
time and again
is perhaps insane
but as I considered this further
other words
with almost the same definition
began to appear in my brain
to keep going despite obstacles
despite setbacks
despite everything
this is the definition
of persistence
of perseverance
of grit
of insistence
of faith
and then I began to think
of all the good that humans
have done
I thought
of the scientific discoveries
of athletic achievement
of exploration to the sea floor
of exploration to the moon
of great feats of medicine
of nuclear disarmament
of peace agreements
and yes there is so much bad
but in this we have persisted
in this art and love and humanity
and discovery and hope
has somehow survived
people in all sorts
of circumstances
have risen to meet a new day
have done what they did
the day before
expecting different results
and perhaps this is insane
but perhaps as well
it is perfect and human and holy
to fall and to get back up
and try again
perhaps it would in fact
be insane to give up
perhaps in our persistence
we can prove
that even definitions of words
can be yet another obstacle
to overcome

Alexander Shalom Joseph is an award winning poet, writer and playwright from Gilpin County, and is the author of seven published books. You can find his work and more information about him at www.alexandershalomjoseph.com.