happiness is a sunset after it rains
and laying on a grassy hill smelling all the sweet earthy smells
big coats on cold days
curled up on the bus watching the sun rise
like a giant blurred orange
running down the street laughing just because you can
and no one else knows what you do
it's sitting on the porch at night
with only the moon and stars and rhododendrons for company
and writing letters in crayon
its dancing in the pouring rain
even though you know you shouldn't
and letting things lie silent for awhile
happiness is feeling the wind against your face
as you drive down the highway
and singing old songs in the car
it's finding a really good picture
and burrowing into it until you can see each little brushstroke
it's running around in thrift shops
and walking the same street with friends because you have nowhere to be
it's saturday mornings and really great movies
and two-day old popcorn with mint tea
it's seeing something really for the first time
and re-discovering your youth
(even when it's not so far away)
it's burgundy and blue and purple and grey
and pianos and violins
happiness is
©1999 m. hughes
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