We Were Happy

Once a man of old age sat beside me and spoke, And I listened and nodded polite. He spoke of a difficult life long ago, Days of hard work and hardship and strife. He told me how little they had to get by, T'was a meager existence at best. But I noticed that although his story was sad, The look on his face did attest That his memories did not bring sadness but joy, So, I stopped him and questioned him why. He looked quite surprised, but then smiling he said, "Tis an odd thing I will not deny.” “Although life in that day was a difficult road, and we struggled each day for bare needs.” “Yet from it we learned that which cannot be bought.” “All in all, I recall…We Were Happy." Then he smiled and spoke on, but my mind followed not for it fixed upon what he had said. And I questioned myself, "How could such a thing be?” “From so little is happiness bred?" So, I sat searching out cross the days of my time and I sifted through memories untold, and I could not declare, "We were happy" despite holding all whereby "happy" is sold. So, in trance I did sit til his stand broke my stare, and he thanked me for lending him ear. But before he could part, I looked deep in his eyes - t'was a light and a peace that was clear. As I watched him walk off, came a whisper inside and a calm rested over my heart. "You choose your own fate, whether happy or sad.” “Will you choose to make now a new start?"