What are we pursuing?
Rainbows? Not me.
Jefferson told us little about it when
He named it as a fundamental right.
It cannot be a state of being
We do not pursue that which we have.
Still it must be something good—
Is it candy, liquor, money
Something sexy, sinful, or funny?
Just what is this thing called happiness?
Do we laugh when we are happy?
Or are we happy because we laugh?
Is it when a kiss takes us
To Shangri-La
A mystical valley in
The Kunlun mountains?
Whether it is a feeling
Possessions
Passions or
Something beautiful
Or poetic
Of ponderous
Or enlightening
It must be a goal
That we always chase
But never achieve
Something beyond our grasp.
Speaking only for me
I will need more time
To reflect
To ponder
To soar without flying
To discover what it is that
I want to chase
But can never quite catch.
I gave up chasing after
The truth long ago—
Chasing paradoxes
Is not for me.
Could it be just
The glory the wonder of
The chase?
Excellent write, I really enjoyed it, It probably is the thrill of the chase, happiness is after all a fleeting thing that comes and goes,
Thanks for sharing
Steve
Reviewed by DM Yates (Reader)
Reviewed on July 9, 2015
To soar without flying - may we all do that. It is indeed the glory of the chase.
...finely written...exquisitely intense words ask an honest question about the meaning of "happiness"...does it have to be chase or just chosen?...to climb or not up to the top of "the Kunlun mountain" to view the sacred landscape of life...remain heavenly questions and an inspiration carrying a message...we are immortal spirits...achieving "happiness" is just a matter of an earthly perception and therefore...as the song goes..."be careful what you wish for cause you just might get it..."
Thank you Edward, for sharing this mind-bending poem.
I love the way you use your poem to ask questions about what you consider to be "elusive" happiness.
When I look at happiness, I think about contentment. Just the thought of it being wonderful to be alive and to experience, allowing many things to make us happy just because they are. Not a elusive at all, but right there in front of us like sunlight and rain.
Hey, hon! I'm chasing getting a good lavendar bed going on. When it's full, come sniff my blossoms when they are ripe............you will relax and forget all about the "chase"!!!
Seems I'm always chasing after something. Striving to be successful, a good mother and wife. Though I'm no where near perfect the pursuit of happiness keeps me going no matter what future holds. This is a lovely poem. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
Just as life during the pandemic was color-coded with different hues representing different levels of danger, life in its aftermath has become shaded in similar ways. As a self-styled “Seeker of Beauty with Beauty,” (borrowing from a quote by W.E.B.
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Thanks for sharing
Steve
Michael D.
Thank you Edward, for sharing this mind-bending poem.
When I look at happiness, I think about contentment. Just the thought of it being wonderful to be alive and to experience, allowing many things to make us happy just because they are. Not a elusive at all, but right there in front of us like sunlight and rain.
Ron
Love ya!
Jane
GREAT!The glory, the wonder of the thing!
Roseline
Blessings,
Christine
Kathy