FINDING HAPPINESS
Happiness when it comes, comes incidentally.
Nathaniel Hawthorne
One of my oldest and best friends is demented.
He no longer cares or knows what’s going on.
When we sing our favorite tunes together
from the 30’s and 40’s—he remembers
the lyrics better than me and even knows
names of songs by just hearing the introductions.
His memory fails him in every other way.
I find happiness singing with him.
Rolling my sailboat into the water and checking
my mast, spreaders, chainplates and cleats
puts a smile on my face—but sailing across
the bounding waves never fails to let me know
the full dimensions of what happiness entails.
Writing a good poem that I know will be published
is always a surefire way to remind me when happiness is mine.