These moments of happiness were written by some of the members of the Thursday Morning Writing Circle, November 3, 2016, in just a few minutes.
Our inspiration came from the poet Tachibana Akemi (1812-1868) whose long happiness poem appears in the book From the Country of Eight Islands: An Anthology of Japanese Poetry, edited and translated by Hiroaki Sato and Burton Watson
Annie Wexler
happiness is when
i make squash soup
sauté ginger and curry
add a tart apple
finish with coconut milk
happiness is when
i wake up
in an alpine refuge
eat a baguette with butter
drink a cafe au lait
set out with my backpack
happiness is when
i start to paint
wetting the paper
brushing yellow and red
playing with color
happiness is when
i do morning meditation
no alarm clock
quiet rhythm
soothes my soul
Barbara Cartwright
happiness is when
the faster
the car goes
the more space i see
between the trees
happiness is when
i race through a book
never sensing myself for a second
and find another
in the series
happiness is when
i find the right words
to describe my feelings
and my listener feels that feeling
like an echo in their heart
happiness is when
a shaft of moonlight
makes a corridor across the water
a means to the other side
a gateway to the stars
Jayne Demakos
happiness is when
i feel cold
and lying there with my mother
i hold her hand
it is warm, fleshy, and comforting
happiness is when
i finally play piano
too many weeks have slipped by
my fingers are like lead
but still chopin nocturns are there
happiness is when
it's my birthday
and my friends come over
we sit around the living room
creating surprising and serendipitous writing
Mara Alper
happiness is when
you laugh and
even happier
when it's at
my joke
happiness is when
my heart is clear
and my mind
settles
into peace
happiness is when
sun streams on the
bike path
and the wetlands
radiate light
happiness is when
my wave of sighs
subsides
and i yield to complexity,
let change change me
Marcy Little
happiness is when
the car won't start
but then i realize
i've simply forgotten
my key
happiness is when
the onions, garlic,
tomatoes, and basil
all ripen
at the same time
happiness is when
the snow starts
with earnest at 3 a.m.
and i awake to the notice
"school closed today"
happiness is when
i return home late
to the gentle hum
of jazz
and a hot pot of tea
Mike Schaff
happiness is when
after 108 years of struggle
the chicago cubs
win the
world series
happiness is when
i have this to look forward to:
my son-in-law reading his poems
this saturday, 1:30, at buffalo books
happiness is when
i have this to look forward to as well:
my daughter reading from her book of short stories
"Say Something Nice About Me"
next saturday, 1 p.m., also at buffalo books
Rob Sullivan
happiness is when
a child smiles back
giggling at the game
entranced by their power
to enchant and endear
happiness is when
music pulls me back
to embrace all
i have forgotten to love,
cherish, and honor
happiness is when
a new day dawns
to find me
once again
above ground
Stacey Murphy
happiness is when
it's breakfast for supper
and next morning
the house holds the scent
of bacon and syrup
happiness is when
the music is loud
and there are friends
to dance with
and time flies too fast
happiness is when
i feel known
and understood
just by looking into
a dear one's eyes
happiness is when
my wiggly 10-year-old
forgets himself
and climbs onto my lap
after dinner
Sue Crowley
happiness is when
the waters of the clyde river
reflect the sky like a mirror
and the bow of my little boat
cleaves through the clouds in silence
happiness is when
an old favorite song
arrives unexpectedly on the radio
and i sing with abandon
alone in my car
happiness is when
i catch sight of four young deer
three does and a yearling buck
grazing in the high grass
before they turn, white tails disappearing
Yvonne Fisher
happiness is when
i go to the movies
i buy the popcorn
and the previews
begin
happiness is when
i sit at my computer
and make a plan
to go
somewhere else
happiness is when
i stay home cozy
the wood fire burning
i'm petting
the cat
happiness is when
i step into the shower
the hot water
runs over
my body
Zee Zahava
happiness is when
a friend sends an email
that says TY TY TY
and i don't know what it means
but then i figure it out: Thank You Thank You Thank You
happiness is when
i buy a new box of 10 pens
all different colored inks
and feel secure
for at least one month
happiness is when
everyone who is expected arrives
the circle is complete
a grey wet thursday morning
brightens
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
A happiness poem written by 9 people
These moments of happiness were written by some of the members of the Wednesday Morning Writing Circle, November 2, 2016, in just a few minutes.
Our inspiration came from the poet Tachibana Akemi (1812-1868) whose long happiness poem appears in the book From the Country of Eight Islands: An Anthology of Japanese Poetry, edited and translated by Hiroaki Sato and Burton Watson
Chris Sanchirico
happiness is when
i call my cat
and he comes home
and i give him
a salmon treat
happiness is when
i am walking on the bike path
on a crisp fall morning
the sun sparkling on the leaves
and i smile
happiness is when
i make a cup of ceylon tea
and smell it before
adding the milk
the cup warm in my hands
happiness is when
i think of each of my children
picture them when young
think of what they are doing now
grateful
happiness is when
i wake up in the morning
and slowly come alive to the realization
that there are no plans
i am retired
Fran Helmstadter
happiness is when
i see my dog jump up
on the bed ... turn three times
and lie down ... her head on two blue pillows
her warm presence
happiness is when
i sink back into a lounge chair
on the deck
and smell the salty ocean
along penobscot bay
happiness is when
i remember the first news of
my grandson's birth
at home in his father's arms
in santa fe
happiness is when
i release great anger
after keeping it company
and emerging slowly
from it
Janie Nusser
happiness is when
i awaken without the sound of an alarm
stretch my fingers and legs and arms and
snuggle into the warmth one last time
before my day begins
happiness is when
i begin the day with a long difficult hike
take a break
retrieve the rake from the shed
and end the day with the last leaf
happiness is when
i have put the gardens to bed for the winter
snow shovels at the ready
long underwear traded back into the dresser
and the geranims snuggly asleep in the cellar
Liz Burns
happiness is when
i eat a cupcake
with chocolate frosting
and rainbow
sprinkles
happiness is when
i take a hot bubble bath
and sink
into the water
up to my nose
happiness is when
i start my computer
and don't have to call
the geek squad and chat with an agent
for an hour and a half
happiness is when
i read
words
that resonate
in my life
Mary Louise Church
happiness is when
i look up from my knitting
and see my friend
who always has some interesting comment
either about what i'm doing or what he is doing
happiness is when
i pull all the left-overs out of the fridge
put them together in a creative way
and my husband says "this is really good
we'll never have it again, will we"
happiness is when
my dearest friend suggests some adventure
and we have time together
to chat and laugh
and plan on doing it again soon
happiness is when
i'm working on a very difficult acrostic puzzle
where i not only don't know the word that fits the definition
i don't even know the words in the definition itself
but through working the puzzle i get the anwer to both
Rainbow Crow
happiness is when
i walk a path
of dying or dead plants
and grass
and find a purple violet staring at me
happiness is when
i am struggling
to find a comfortable
way to sleep
and my cat curls up
behind my knees
happiness is when
i find worms
and toads
and snakes
after putting the garden to bed
happiness is when
i see my physical therapist
and she flashes her dazzling smile
along with a little cleavage
Ross Haarstad
happiness is when
the sodden wrap
dripping with gloom
breaks off
in the brisk autumn wind
happiness is when
i write of it
in a circle
of friends
writing of happiness
happiness is when
the town fills up
with wizards
wands flying
through young enchantments
happiness is when
i am not unhappy
or stressed
or panicking
or many other things
Susanna Drbal
happiness is when
i look up at the stars
and at my feet
fireflies gather
and spark
happiness is when
i write
and the words flow
and i feel
unemcumbered
happiness is when
i cross that bridge
from to-do
to
finally done
happiness is when
i hear the creak
in jerry garcia's voice
and i feel the
careless joy of youth
happiness is when
i hear thunder
followed by bulbous
plops of rain
and feel washed anew
Zee Zahava
happiness is when
i feel a bit drab
and then remind myself that
i can put on mis-matched socks
and i do
happiness is when
i decide i just don't care
and i let the leaves blow in
and i don't
vacuum them up
Our inspiration came from the poet Tachibana Akemi (1812-1868) whose long happiness poem appears in the book From the Country of Eight Islands: An Anthology of Japanese Poetry, edited and translated by Hiroaki Sato and Burton Watson
Chris Sanchirico
happiness is when
i call my cat
and he comes home
and i give him
a salmon treat
happiness is when
i am walking on the bike path
on a crisp fall morning
the sun sparkling on the leaves
and i smile
happiness is when
i make a cup of ceylon tea
and smell it before
adding the milk
the cup warm in my hands
happiness is when
i think of each of my children
picture them when young
think of what they are doing now
grateful
happiness is when
i wake up in the morning
and slowly come alive to the realization
that there are no plans
i am retired
Fran Helmstadter
happiness is when
i see my dog jump up
on the bed ... turn three times
and lie down ... her head on two blue pillows
her warm presence
happiness is when
i sink back into a lounge chair
on the deck
and smell the salty ocean
along penobscot bay
happiness is when
i remember the first news of
my grandson's birth
at home in his father's arms
in santa fe
happiness is when
i release great anger
after keeping it company
and emerging slowly
from it
Janie Nusser
happiness is when
i awaken without the sound of an alarm
stretch my fingers and legs and arms and
snuggle into the warmth one last time
before my day begins
happiness is when
i begin the day with a long difficult hike
take a break
retrieve the rake from the shed
and end the day with the last leaf
happiness is when
i have put the gardens to bed for the winter
snow shovels at the ready
long underwear traded back into the dresser
and the geranims snuggly asleep in the cellar
Liz Burns
happiness is when
i eat a cupcake
with chocolate frosting
and rainbow
sprinkles
happiness is when
i take a hot bubble bath
and sink
into the water
up to my nose
happiness is when
i start my computer
and don't have to call
the geek squad and chat with an agent
for an hour and a half
happiness is when
i read
words
that resonate
in my life
Mary Louise Church
happiness is when
i look up from my knitting
and see my friend
who always has some interesting comment
either about what i'm doing or what he is doing
happiness is when
i pull all the left-overs out of the fridge
put them together in a creative way
and my husband says "this is really good
we'll never have it again, will we"
happiness is when
my dearest friend suggests some adventure
and we have time together
to chat and laugh
and plan on doing it again soon
happiness is when
i'm working on a very difficult acrostic puzzle
where i not only don't know the word that fits the definition
i don't even know the words in the definition itself
but through working the puzzle i get the anwer to both
Rainbow Crow
happiness is when
i walk a path
of dying or dead plants
and grass
and find a purple violet staring at me
happiness is when
i am struggling
to find a comfortable
way to sleep
and my cat curls up
behind my knees
happiness is when
i find worms
and toads
and snakes
after putting the garden to bed
happiness is when
i see my physical therapist
and she flashes her dazzling smile
along with a little cleavage
Ross Haarstad
happiness is when
the sodden wrap
dripping with gloom
breaks off
in the brisk autumn wind
happiness is when
i write of it
in a circle
of friends
writing of happiness
happiness is when
the town fills up
with wizards
wands flying
through young enchantments
happiness is when
i am not unhappy
or stressed
or panicking
or many other things
Susanna Drbal
happiness is when
i look up at the stars
and at my feet
fireflies gather
and spark
happiness is when
i write
and the words flow
and i feel
unemcumbered
happiness is when
i cross that bridge
from to-do
to
finally done
happiness is when
i hear the creak
in jerry garcia's voice
and i feel the
careless joy of youth
happiness is when
i hear thunder
followed by bulbous
plops of rain
and feel washed anew
Zee Zahava
happiness is when
i feel a bit drab
and then remind myself that
i can put on mis-matched socks
and i do
happiness is when
i decide i just don't care
and i let the leaves blow in
and i don't
vacuum them up
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
A happiness poem written by 14 women
These moments of happiness were written at the start of the Tuesday Morning Writing Circle, November 1, 2016, in just a few minutes.
Our inspiration came from the poet Tachibana Akemi (1812-1868) whose long happiness poem appears in the book From the Country of Eight Islands: An Anthology of Japanese Poetry, edited and translated by Hiroaki Sato and Burton Watson
Gabrielle Vehar
happiness is when
i'm lying all curled up
huddled in bed against the cold
and i realize that i'm toasty warm
because my two cats are lying with me
happiness is when
i go to a play
and i'm dreading seeing it
but then all of a sudden
it turns out to be soul-saving
happiness is when
i wake up on that special day
and realize that i actually did get enough sleep
to be all ready
to write with my friends
happiness is when
i get out of a cold swimming pool
on a cold day
and give myself permission
to take a long hot shower
Grace Celeste
happiness is when
i resist leaving home
but i do
and then i am delighted
that i did
happiness is when
i hear my children and grandchildren
sharing memories
and laughing
at family holiday gatherings
happiness is when
i listen
to the silence
of the first
snowfall
happiness is when
i sit
in front of
my crackling
fire
Kim Falstick
happiness is when
i give one cat a tummy rub
the other cat a chin-chuckle
then commune with my rabbits
and cook dinner for maureen
Linda Keeler
happiness is when
i wake up
and realize
my cold
is gone
happiness is when
our two bags
of halloween candy
last
all night
happiness is when
the day is cool
and the wind is at my back
as i ride my bicycle
around keuka lake
happiness is when
the storm windows are down
the garden pots
are stored away
and i am ready for winter
happiness is when
i put my thoughts
on paper
and the reaction that i get
is what i wished for
Lottie Sweeney
happiness is when
i have more time
than i realize
to read a favorite book
uninterrupted
happiness is when
i feel clean —
clean laundry
clean bedding
and showered
happiness is when
i am trying to get to sleep and
my cat leaps up
to sleep beside me
Margaret Dennis
happiness is when
i discover a pound of coffee
way in the back of the cupboard
when i thought
i was out
happiness is when
i go into the library
and find
immediately
three new mystery novels
happiness is when
i look out my window
and see that the rain
has left a carpet of
glistening gold leaves on the ground
happiness is when
i open my computer and find
pictures of the new twins
looking like darling little
wrinkled elves in pointy caps
happiness is when
i walk to writing group
worrying that i have
no new ideas
and then i discover that i do
Marty Blue Waters
happiness is when
after 25 years of sitting empty on a shelf
or waiting in a closet of the house
a beautiful bamboo box suddenly finds a job
in the trunk of my car, bringing chaos into order
Nancy Osborn
happiness is when
i come up the steps
into harvard square
and see
that the bookstore is still there
happiness is when
i sit at the table
with my two sisters
laughing with
our newly-discovered cousin
happiness is when
my sister's cat
does not hiss at me
and i do not
step in his water bowl
happiness is when
i arrive at the end of my journey
and discover it is raining
and i have wisely brought my umbrella
happiness is when
i visit my mother
who savors her coffee
and smiles across the table at me
even though she doesn't know who i am
Nina Miller
happiness is when
i hear the voices
of my children
on the
phone
happiness is when
i go to the cemetery
and talk to george
even though i don't believe for a second
that he can hear me
happiness is when
i find the handicapped parking meter
and discover that
i have enough quarters to pay for it
happiness is when
i cook
a soup
and it lasts
all week
happiness is when
my granddaughter runs up the gangplank
from the boat in provincetown
her arms open
for a hug
Paula Culver
happiness is when
my 13-year-old daughter
who is now becoming a young woman
calls me into her room
and wants to snuggle
happiness is when
a friend posts a recipe on facebook
for caramel shortbread bars . . .
i check all the cupboards
and find everything to make them
happiness is when
the tea meets my lips
soothing lemon and ginger
sure to cure all
that ails me
happiness is when
my foot searches for yours
the first cold night —
a beacon of warmth
and comfort
Sara Robbins
happiness is when
i hold my grandson
and breathe in his sweetness
and he melts into me
and holds me right back
happiness is when
the wood stove is full
and more wood stacked
right near the stove
on a cold raw night
happiness is when
a friend gives me a new coat
and it fits
and it's warm
and i look just fine, not shabby as usual
happiness is when
i have a pot luck
and all my neighbors come
bringing treats
and laughter and sharing
happiness is when
i sit in a circle
breathing deeply
surrounded by friends
anticipating hearing their words
Sue Norvell
happiness is when
my demanding
cat
lets me sleep
another hour
happiness is when
i find
the only remaining
purple
fall crocus
happiness is when
the missing gardening glove
appears
in last winter's
coat pocket
happiness is when
the red-bellied woodpecker
lands on the seed feeder
and shows his really
red belly
happiness is when
i am sitting
in a circle
alone but together
writing
Sue Perlgut
happiness is when
i wake up
to the sound of
my granddaughter's
knock on my bedroom door
happiness is when
my former students
come to ithaca
to visit me
bringing love
happiness is when
i have a shelf
of murder mysteries
just waiting
to be read
happiness is when
i'm tired and achy
and my husband
makes the very best
chicken soup
Zee Zahava
happiness is when
i wake up with music in my head
it could be a sanskrit chant
or maybe aretha or martha and the vandellas
and it stays with me all day
happiness is when
my mother sends me an email
that contains only symbols
hearts, stars, fruit, silly animals, red exclamation marks
and i know she's been having fun with her smartie phone
happiness is when
i ride in the car with the love of my life
and we come to an open stretch of road
just as thousands of leaves
come dancing by — right to left and back again
Our inspiration came from the poet Tachibana Akemi (1812-1868) whose long happiness poem appears in the book From the Country of Eight Islands: An Anthology of Japanese Poetry, edited and translated by Hiroaki Sato and Burton Watson
Gabrielle Vehar
happiness is when
i'm lying all curled up
huddled in bed against the cold
and i realize that i'm toasty warm
because my two cats are lying with me
happiness is when
i go to a play
and i'm dreading seeing it
but then all of a sudden
it turns out to be soul-saving
happiness is when
i wake up on that special day
and realize that i actually did get enough sleep
to be all ready
to write with my friends
happiness is when
i get out of a cold swimming pool
on a cold day
and give myself permission
to take a long hot shower
Grace Celeste
happiness is when
i resist leaving home
but i do
and then i am delighted
that i did
happiness is when
i hear my children and grandchildren
sharing memories
and laughing
at family holiday gatherings
happiness is when
i listen
to the silence
of the first
snowfall
happiness is when
i sit
in front of
my crackling
fire
Kim Falstick
happiness is when
i give one cat a tummy rub
the other cat a chin-chuckle
then commune with my rabbits
and cook dinner for maureen
Linda Keeler
happiness is when
i wake up
and realize
my cold
is gone
happiness is when
our two bags
of halloween candy
last
all night
happiness is when
the day is cool
and the wind is at my back
as i ride my bicycle
around keuka lake
happiness is when
the storm windows are down
the garden pots
are stored away
and i am ready for winter
happiness is when
i put my thoughts
on paper
and the reaction that i get
is what i wished for
Lottie Sweeney
happiness is when
i have more time
than i realize
to read a favorite book
uninterrupted
happiness is when
i feel clean —
clean laundry
clean bedding
and showered
happiness is when
i am trying to get to sleep and
my cat leaps up
to sleep beside me
Margaret Dennis
happiness is when
i discover a pound of coffee
way in the back of the cupboard
when i thought
i was out
happiness is when
i go into the library
and find
immediately
three new mystery novels
happiness is when
i look out my window
and see that the rain
has left a carpet of
glistening gold leaves on the ground
happiness is when
i open my computer and find
pictures of the new twins
looking like darling little
wrinkled elves in pointy caps
happiness is when
i walk to writing group
worrying that i have
no new ideas
and then i discover that i do
Marty Blue Waters
happiness is when
after 25 years of sitting empty on a shelf
or waiting in a closet of the house
a beautiful bamboo box suddenly finds a job
in the trunk of my car, bringing chaos into order
Nancy Osborn
happiness is when
i come up the steps
into harvard square
and see
that the bookstore is still there
happiness is when
i sit at the table
with my two sisters
laughing with
our newly-discovered cousin
happiness is when
my sister's cat
does not hiss at me
and i do not
step in his water bowl
happiness is when
i arrive at the end of my journey
and discover it is raining
and i have wisely brought my umbrella
happiness is when
i visit my mother
who savors her coffee
and smiles across the table at me
even though she doesn't know who i am
Nina Miller
happiness is when
i hear the voices
of my children
on the
phone
happiness is when
i go to the cemetery
and talk to george
even though i don't believe for a second
that he can hear me
happiness is when
i find the handicapped parking meter
and discover that
i have enough quarters to pay for it
happiness is when
i cook
a soup
and it lasts
all week
happiness is when
my granddaughter runs up the gangplank
from the boat in provincetown
her arms open
for a hug
Paula Culver
happiness is when
my 13-year-old daughter
who is now becoming a young woman
calls me into her room
and wants to snuggle
happiness is when
a friend posts a recipe on facebook
for caramel shortbread bars . . .
i check all the cupboards
and find everything to make them
happiness is when
the tea meets my lips
soothing lemon and ginger
sure to cure all
that ails me
happiness is when
my foot searches for yours
the first cold night —
a beacon of warmth
and comfort
Sara Robbins
happiness is when
i hold my grandson
and breathe in his sweetness
and he melts into me
and holds me right back
happiness is when
the wood stove is full
and more wood stacked
right near the stove
on a cold raw night
happiness is when
a friend gives me a new coat
and it fits
and it's warm
and i look just fine, not shabby as usual
happiness is when
i have a pot luck
and all my neighbors come
bringing treats
and laughter and sharing
happiness is when
i sit in a circle
breathing deeply
surrounded by friends
anticipating hearing their words
Sue Norvell
happiness is when
my demanding
cat
lets me sleep
another hour
happiness is when
i find
the only remaining
purple
fall crocus
happiness is when
the missing gardening glove
appears
in last winter's
coat pocket
happiness is when
the red-bellied woodpecker
lands on the seed feeder
and shows his really
red belly
happiness is when
i am sitting
in a circle
alone but together
writing
Sue Perlgut
happiness is when
i wake up
to the sound of
my granddaughter's
knock on my bedroom door
happiness is when
my former students
come to ithaca
to visit me
bringing love
happiness is when
i have a shelf
of murder mysteries
just waiting
to be read
happiness is when
i'm tired and achy
and my husband
makes the very best
chicken soup
Zee Zahava
happiness is when
i wake up with music in my head
it could be a sanskrit chant
or maybe aretha or martha and the vandellas
and it stays with me all day
happiness is when
my mother sends me an email
that contains only symbols
hearts, stars, fruit, silly animals, red exclamation marks
and i know she's been having fun with her smartie phone
happiness is when
i ride in the car with the love of my life
and we come to an open stretch of road
just as thousands of leaves
come dancing by — right to left and back again
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