Saturday, June 12, 2010

Happiness



Happiness is the surrender of need.

Like a kite takes to air.

It’s sitting in a field of flowers
that don’t aspire.
Daisies and other pretties
that bear no blood
or conscious throb.

It’s the butterfly,
the bees,
the caterpillar’s sticky feet,
the tattered ends of grassy reeds.

The silver threads of spiderwebs,
the rat-tat-tat of downy heads.

It’s a wind that swirls
and sits back down.
Resting for another round.

Happiness is the solitude
when ones you love
are tucked in rooms
or even
just
removed.

And the moment wants
no setting down
to keep its winged glory.

No.

It lives,
with arms
wide open.

No tail
on which
to cling.

20 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

I really felt like I was IN this one. I could feel and see all the experiences. I've often imagined myself as the size of an insect, and how I would experience the intenseness of the world around me. This captures it for me.

Naquillity said...

this is so lovely. beautifully expressed. one always feels they're in the moment when they read what you've said. hope all is well.

Stephen Parrish said...

Fabulous, as usual. Absolutely fabulous.

Sarah Hina said...

Charles, I love your comment! It's funny you should say that, because I was imagining myself as an insect that day, too. I really want to write on location more, from now on. It's so effortlessly inspiring.


Naquillity, I couldn't ask for more than for you to feel in the moment. Thank you for letting me know that, Michelle.


Steve, thank you. I'm really glad you liked this one.

Maha said...

I agree with everyone in here, your poem is magical. I loved the images that kept on going back and forth within my mind. I loved the world of metaphors you so brilliantly created.

Richard Levangie said...

Soft and sweet. :-)

Sarah Hina said...

Maha, I looked at your profile and was impressed by your excellent taste in books! And actually, I just looked again and noticed the switch from your being 14 to 15. So happy birthday! I'm so pleased you stopped by here, and am grateful for the lovely words of appreciation.


Richard, thank you. That's how that sojourn felt.

Vesper said...

Happiness is the surrender of need.

This is so beautiful, Sarah, so strong and likewise delicate... And the rhyming is perfect in its playfulness...

I love it. I can relate to it. :-)

Aniket Thakkar said...

Very Joaquinish... Very hummable... Very good! Me, likes.

Sarah Hina said...

Vesper, I know you can, my friend. :)

It's so wonderful to see you again. I'm glad you've stayed with us. Our blogging world wouldn't be the same without you.


Aniket, any comparison to Joaquin works for me.

Me likes you. :)

Travis Erwin said...

Great imagery. You made me truly feel it.

Sarah Hina said...

Travis, I really appreciate your stopping by here. And am grateful for your words.

catvibe said...

So lovely. A soft reminder of what is important and easy to overlook with The Thing everyone wants to push away from thought. I am glad for this today. :-)

Karen said...

You have an unusual way of seeing things, Sarah, as if you are able to look into the thing and see its essence then frame that picture in words so exact that I can't imagine saying it any other way.

There's a gorgeous sound to this one. I've read it aloud twice just to hear it spoken. Beautiful.

Rick said...

Such a wonderful surrender to fancy, Sarah! You are blessed with the spirit of the eternal child.

joaquin carvel said...

this one almost leaves me breathless, but in a quiet way - like that kite catching a draft. a series of moments that is somehow just one moment - just now.

the surrender of need - i remember last year after the fires, as people were crying over the rubble of their homes, they interviewed a woman who'd lost everything - and she was glowing. said it was so liberating. i don't think that would be my reaction, but it's one i would aspire to. open arms.

Sarah Hina said...

Cat, I needed this interlude on the day I wrote it, too. Thank you, my friend.


Karen, it does my heart good to know you read this aloud. And twice at that. You have such a wonderful ear for the rub and flow of words, that it means extra special much. :)

Thank you for that particularly lovely comment. It means a lot to me.


Rick, I love that. Oh, that it were always true! :) But thank you.


Joaquin, I did feel all of these things in the moment. But I also wrote it with a tail of sorts...as a reminder. For my weaker moments. Which are many.

Thank you for sharing that woman's story. I am in awe of that kind of strength. That kind of acceptance.

Margaret said...

Happiness is the surrender of need.

I'll try to let this work on me Sarah.

There's nothing more beautiful than a field of wild flowers. I loved every bit of this poem.

Bob said...

Beautiful, I love the stanza about the wind especially... lovely work.

Dream's Scribe said...

I love your line, "Happiness is the surrender of need." And you wonder why so few people are truly happy..... Thank you!!!!!