The standard that measures a man's civilization

By the number of mechanical buttons he presses

Must be a false standard and a lot of this puzzle

Of the human contentment is of our own invention.

It is true however that some people are probably

More contented than the others, class for class,

While living under all the same circumstances.

This spirit of cheerfulness and glad contentment

Is found in both the literate and illiterate places,

For such is the penetration of an ancient custom.

It may be seen in the fellow, whistling taxi driver

Of New York City or Beijing suburb, for laughing

And funny joking all the way and ready to laugh

Time and again at a fellow-man's fussy hastiness;

Or it may be seen in the panting and damp in sweat

Sedan-chair cyclist who carries you up up to the top

Of Kuala Lumpur or Mumbai downtown; or it may

Be seen in the boat-trackers who pull your vessel

Upstream along the Mekong River's rapids and who

Just earn for their living a bare pittance of wages

Beyond two simple but hearty meals: one at sunrise,

Another at sunset. . . A simple but hearty meal eaten

Without much care is, however, a great deal of luck,

According to the ancient standard of contentment,

For as one man of genius and poet in olden days

Has put it, "A well-filled belly is a great attainment—

All else is luxury of life. . ." I could not say it better

Because he who is easy contented is always happy.