Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Happiness




Image by Emergency Brake via Flickr/Creative Commons.

THREE THINGS HAPPY PEOPLE DO By Chanda Temple

(Image by Emergency Brake via Flickr/Creative Commons.)



“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, "This is what it is to be happy.” 
― Sylvia PlathThe Bell Jar

“Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length.” 

― Robert Frost


“What can I do with my happiness? How can I keep it, conceal it, bury it where I may never lose it? I want to kneel as it falls over me like rain, gather it up with lace and silk, and press it over myself again.” 
― Anaïs NinHenry & June


“The pain I feel now is the happiness I had before. That's the deal.” 
― C.S. Lewis






Midweek Motif ~ Happiness

Happiness is a balm. Some say that kindness amplifies it for giver and receiver. I've been surprised to learn this year that happiness helps when caring for friends and family in crisis. 

Happiness!

Your Challenge:  In a new poem, describe an instant and/or duration of happiness.

(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

A Birthday by Christina Rossetti

My heart is like a singing bird
Whose nest is in a water’d shoot;
My heart is like an apple-tree
Whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit;
My heart is like a rainbow shell
That paddles in a halcyon sea;
My heart is gladder than all these
Because my love is come to me.
Raise me a dais of silk and down;
Hang it with vair and purple dyes;
Carve it in doves and pomegranates,
And peacocks with a hundred eyes;
Work it in gold and silver grapes,
In leaves and silver fleurs-de-lys;
Because the birthday of my life
Is come, my love is come to me.


by e.e. cummings
i thank You God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any–lifted from the no
of all nothing–human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

Source


Happiness by Louise Gluck
A man and a woman lie on a white bed.
It is morning. I think
Soon they will waken.
On the bedside table is a vase
of lilies; sunlight
pools in their throats.
I watch him turn to her
as though to speak her name
but silently, deep in her mouth--
At the window ledge,
once, twice,
a bird calls.
And then she stirs; her body
fills with his breath.

I open my eyes; you are watching me.

Almost over this room
the sun is gliding.
Look at your face, you say,
holding your own close to me
to make a mirror.
How calm you are. And the burning wheel
passes gently over us.

Please share your new poem using Mr. Linky below and visit others in the spirit of the community—

(Next week Sumana’s Midweek Motif will be ~  A Tribute Poem.)

15 comments:

  1. Thank you for this wonderful prompt Susan. Happy Wednesday everyone :)

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  2. Its mid-week we meet again in poetry have a happy day everyone. Thanks Susan for a wonderful prompt

    much love...

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for bringing your cheer, Ms. Gillena!

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  3. Well, you all make me happy, Poets United. Have that kind of day!

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  4. Oh, the examples given here are so lovely, Susan. I definitely have many chest-expanding moments of happiness here, living in this glorious place. I will write something and be back. Thank you for hosting, and for the prompt.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Ms. Sherry. I love that you have "chest-expanding moments of happiness."

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  5. Lovely poems this week.Happiness is writing and sharing poetry.

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  6. Evening, Poets! Thanks, Susan, for the lovely prompt!

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  7. I am so happy to have written about happiness!
    Thank you for the opportunity to share my "Happiness Perfume" :)
    Have a happy week!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for adding to our happiness, Dr. Anita.

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  8. I haven't had a lot of time to write poetry recently but happy to link up for happiness! I missed everyone. Great prompt, Susan!

    A day late and I haven't been around recently so please don't forget to visit me! Can't wait to read the poetry!

    Group hug!!

    ReplyDelete

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