Best Happinessold Poems
There is adventure, just waiting, as I open the door
A tiny bell sings a tinkle, (old lyrics, perhaps)
To a place of discovery... inviting me in...
But offers in fact, enough excitement to thrill me
I often drop by, one chance for a glance
A dingy old store ..., this place I adore..
I scour the junk, the discarded old trunk, a bit of history in disguise
Elbow to elbow, wall to wall...a sea of collectibles to capture my eyes
Upon every visit, a brand new dilemma...how will I decide in the gloom?
How can I use this? Should I buy that? Will I have room?
Nothing like it in the world! Nothing so lovely, oh how I love this little shop!
Will it be cheap?....Something lost in a heap?....It beckons me to stop!
As the lifting down from the dusty shelves, the musty scent of wood
Telling a story...pungent and sweet....restore it?....I could!!
That antique rocker, perhaps it was lonely....so lost and cold
Or those dusty dishes...on the shelf...I rub off the grime..the flowers are gold!
Oh yes...I could give it new life....let it see sun, won't it be fun?!
Buried beneath the rubbish.....where do I begin?
A treasure, I'll think...Soon after the clink that nourishes a till
For mere pennies...I will haul it home...paint, polish or shine...that's the thrill!
How divine! Once it was theirs..., lost in a time zone...now it is mine...
Swift on the track of the years that had left it behind....
There are places in one's life
That are as comfortable as an old shoe
Where one can feel so much at ease
Never tongue tied, nor a need to speak
Where perhaps the walls are worn and dusty
But acceptance fills the air
Where a mind can curl and rest it's feet
And a soul can breath and be complete
There are places in one's life
That are as comfortable as an old shoe
I have a place that's right for me...
And I hope that you do too....
Sitting cross legged beside a bonfire
Flipping though old photos
Going back in time to the already expired
Reliving wonderful memories
There’s baby me butt naked covered in bubbles
Sister and Brother joining me too
Now I remember the greatness of having no troubles
Captured times will do that to you
A cute one of Mama when she was a girl
In black and white but still so real
With the old 70’s swimsuits and cute little curls
At the time it must have been ideal
The really old one of younger granddad
At the drive though movies with friends
I guess those clothes where fad
But that line of clothes came to an end
Aw! Look at Mom and Dad on their wedding day
Wow they were so blessed
Jubilant is what they are as portrayed
In this picture, no emotion is suppressed
So many wonderful captured times we’ve had
On hot summer days and snowy winter nights
The times where we were crazily clad
Times when we posed with all our might
Setting down the memories, closing the lid
Saving times to share with others
Oh I love looking at things that already we’ve already did
Photo’s are good times captured with lovers
Center stage star
yet hooded afar
uncloak your smile
Let it unjar
open the blinds
black and then red
take down old mantras
make new ones instead
ignite your old spirit
that used to sing
Unlock your heart
thats been surfacing
trying to swim back
to the top
from where its been hiding
alone in the dark.
your soul is not a secret
with me
know that i care
unconditionally
rise above the mental
hardship
the heart that i know
resides on my lips.
Happily-Ever-After Eternally
Dreams…ah, there are so many.
Which shall I share?
The impossible dream—
Which shall I choose?
The attainable dream—
Where does dreaming take me?
Do I even have a dream?
Am I too old to dream?
(Probably not...)
Will I drop in deep despair?
Dreaming unrealistic dreams.
Would I dream to be young?
A shadow of myself…
A woman: Planning. Hoping.
Working. Living. Sharing.
Wisely making perfect choices.
Avoiding unexpected dangers.
Making and attaining goals;
Refraining from distractions.
Remaining firmly focused.
A young woman dreaming
She being and achieving dreams,
A forever-perfect woman.
Will I drop in deep despair?
Tormented, pulling out my hair.
Hopes dead. Progress slowed.
Great dreams sold out to:
Flourishing discouragement.
Poor study habits…and poverty.
I had a dream, once…long ago.
And then, I had a better dream.
I dreamed of being a good mother.
I would cherish my children.
And show: Loving guidance.
They would not be afraid.
Because they would be free
To be: true to self and dreams.
Choices would be guided…not forced.
They would be loved…respected.
They would love and respect me.
Together, we would love life.
Showing tolerance, understanding
Making choices with wisdom.
And forgiving mistakes always.
I had a dream, once…long ago.
Then, I had a better dream…a family dream.
And that dream became my reality.
(My children have grown.
My dream is a dream fulfilled.
If I now had only one possible wish,
I would wish for Happily-ever-after lives
For my children, their families, and ours.)
NOTE: Being a Mother was a dream for me. I was almost 34 years old when my
eldest daughter was born.
© Dane Ann Smith-Johnsen
February 21, 2010
Poetic form: Free Verse
Happiness to me is baking cookies, seeing an old movie that you haven't seen in awhile.
Walking on the beach and finding seashells. Seeing a former school buddy.
Backyard barbecues, watching the sunset lying under an old shade tree. Walking to the
mall and window shopping. My grandchildren coming for a visit. Listening to classic soul
music, dancing with my grandson when his mom got married. Listening to the birds
sing in the morning. walking in the rain and stepping in rain puddles. Listening to the
distance sound of the train coming into the station.
Happiness is whatever you want or need.
Brown haired short, in the farmers green and gold.
We are trotting heading towards a gallop.
Suddenly thrown to the softened earth
light gleaming off her chestnut coat.
Shadows splayed on the walls.
I am
excited and scared
excited and scared
Scared shouts, nose snorting
slowly the sounds of receding hooves.
I stare for a moment and wonder,
What had spooked her?
mean old mare
mean old mare
Giddiness over comes me,
and very slowly I begin to giggle.
Fear coils in my belly at what could have been,
but excitement and releif place tiredness into my system.
And I succumb to the deep slumber.
I was
excited and scared
excited and scared