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
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
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 morning
brightens
