HAPPINESS!

A splendid contrast to HATE....

Montana valley sunset. Created with CANVA by Wendy Gray

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HAPPINESS!                      

I have
conscious dreams,
sometimes,
of things
in this world
that make me—HAPPY;
filmstrip flickers
across 
my mind’s screen.
In view, 
I catch myself
smiling
in the middle
of my tears.

Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash

Driving—
Dodge Dynasty,
diamond blue, 
in dark of night.
CDs on repeat:
Van Morrison,
Hootie,
Bob Seger,
Tracy Chapman,
Chris Rea… 
Loving them
in the glow
of dashboard lights.

Photo by Anton Darius on Unsplash

Writing—
in candle lit room
full of flickers. 
Shadows dance beside
dolphins dipping and diving
oceans of wall posters.
Wafting wisps of incense
rise and 
whiffs meet
my nose. 
Empty pages,
white, and
a pen
before me,
I stir words.

Photo by HighBabe on Unsplash

Studying—
in the quiet still,
ears massaged 
with rhythmic sound
of Shepherd/Coyote cross,
all long furred, 
beautifully brindled,
breathing;
soft puffs rippling
her loose lips.
I give sigh
knowing 
someone feels
my presence,
even when I’m
not in the same
room.

Whiskey 1995 Photo by Wendy Gray

Gazing—
a full orb of
silver moon
rising to light
a black night.
Half the sky
afloat in
cotton ball clouds
and the other
sprinkled with
depths of diamond stars
glittering my eyes.

Photo by Kenrick Mills on Unsplash

Returning—
back home, 
Dillon,
after a long
weekend
in Dixon with Mom.
I-15 south…
windshield frames
Beaverhead Mountains
opening up
to lush valley.
Sunset splays
across the Big Hole,
then Beaverhead rivers.
Rolled down window,
welcomes in cooled
riverbed aroma 
dancing with alfalfa.  

Photo by Cory Bouthillette on Unsplash

Remembering—
long weekends,
parent’s house,
gardening, 
mowing lawn, 
gathering and
inhaling loaded lilacs. 
Best mornings are
8 a.m. coffee, 
Swedish Pancakes, 
shuffle of newspaper,
all while neighbors
steady,
drop in.

Photo by Anita Austvika on Unsplash

Unwinding—
between everything:
classes, jobs, travels, visits,
gathering friends, mountain hikes,
all of my likes, and even the Yikes!
Calm closing comes
to my eyes
for an anytime,
never scheduled,
nap.
T.V. plays,
and my body
hugs,
all fuzzy blanket snug,
into the
cushions of the couch.
Whiskey,
not liquid,
but my dog kid,
curled into any 
space near my feet;
nothing like 
our deep sleep.

Whiskey snuggled in and hanging out with me. Photo by Wendy Gray

I now enter 
sweet REM dream;
my mind having
watched the days
conscious film flicks,
all two thumbs up—
for 
HAPPINESS!



(1997 revised 2010)

Photo by Rex Pickar on Unsplash

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