A Happy Life (poem) by John Herlihy on AuthorsDen

A Happy Life
by John Herlihy → (All Poetry by John Herlihy)
Tuesday, November 13, 2018 Rated "G" by the Author.

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A Happy Life By John Herlihy What do I need to make a happy life, Free of all miseries and all undue strife? I confess that a happy life does elude me, There as a mirage that only excludes me. I wake up one day and my mood is happy, As content as an infant with a clean nappy. I wake up another day and my mood is sad, Wondering what happened to my feeling glad. Is happiness but a slave to some inner whim; One day feels blissful while another day grim? Children don’t question the source of happiness Drawn from the depths of their sweet innocence My happiness often surges on a powerful tide, On some distant shore where my dreams reside. My happiness is wrapped in shadows that cling, A moody presence smothers the day that sings. In the dry desert of our lives lies a hidden well, Where happiness is drawn, as if by magic spell. - - - - - - (c) John Herlihy November 2018

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on November 30, 2018

I LOST MY 'HAPPY LIFE' A LONG TIME AGO... SOMEWHERE....WAYYYYY BACK THERE ON ONE OF MY 'PATHS'. HOWEVER, IT WAS REPLACED AND NOW I'VE GOT A 'JOYFUL LIFE'(A PEACEFUL LIFE)! I TELL YOU, 'HIS' JOY IS SOMETHING THAT WON'T QUIT, IT STAYS THROUGH IT ALL...UP, DOWN OR WHATEVER! NOW, PLEASE DON'T GET ME WRONG, I HAVE MY 'MOMENTS' BUT IF I RELIED ON HAPPINESS TO BRING ME BACK TO A PLACE OF CONTENTMENT IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN. AND THAT'S BECAUSE NOTHING HAS CHANGED...THINGS HAVE NOT GOTTEN BETTER, STRESS HAS NOT BEEN ALLEVIATED AND THERE IS STILL UNHAPPINESS ALL AROUND. BUT, I HAVE CHANGED BECAUSE 'HIS' JOY IS ALWAYS PRESENT AND IT KEEPS ME 'KEEPING ON'!I SEE THE WORLD THROUGH JOY'S COLORED EYEGLASSES. SO THEN, I DO NOT HAVE A 'HAPPY LIFE', BUT I'VE GOT THE 'MIRACLE' OF A 'JOYFUL LIFE'...AMEN! THANKS, JOHN. YOU WRITE SO EXTRAORDINARILY WELL AND, TO ME, PROVOKINGLY THAT SOMETIMES IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME NOT TO LEAVE SOMEWHAT EXTENSIVE FEED BACKS. THANKS FOR SHARING, MY FRIEND. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...JOYCE * HIS INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by Jane Noponen Perinacci

Reviewed on November 17, 2018

Yes, John, your last line is pretty much the way it feels to be on a roller coaster! People who are into the arts, no matter which field, are a bit jiggy the way your poem suggests. Your imagery is stunning as usual!

Love ya!

Jane

Reviewed by Susanne Leist

Reviewed on November 13, 2018

I also chase the elusive happiness. It's a state of mind that I've yet to achieve.

Reviewed by Jerry Bolton

Take your happiness and sadness in your stride, and keep on being the necessary "you" and you will see more happy days than sad ones.

Reviewed by Michael Schafer

Happiness is a state of mind, and if we didn't bad/sad days, we wouldn't recognize the good ones.