Coconut by Paul Hostovsky
Coconut
Paul HostovskyBear with me I
want to tell you
something about
happiness
it’s hard to get at
but the thing is
I wasn’t looking
I was looking
somewhere else
when my son found i
in the fruit section
and came running
holding it out
in his small hands
asking me what
it was and could we
keep it it only
cost 99 cents
hairy and brown
hard as a rock
and something swishing
around inside
and what on earth
and where on earth
and this was happiness
this little ball
of interest beating
inside his chest
this interestedness
beaming out
from his face pleading
happiness
and because I wasn’t
happy I said
to put it back
because I didn’t want it
because we didn’t need it
and because we didn’t need it
and because he was happy
he started to cry
right there in aisle
five so when we
got it home we
put it in the middle
of the kitchen table
and sat on either
side of it and began
to consider how
to get inside of it
KEEP READING
SHARED WITH GRATITUDE
This poem appeared in Bending the Notes by Paul Hostovsky, published by Main Street Rag, 2008. (Available on: Amazon • Bookshop)
ABOUT PAUL HOSTOVSKY
Paul Hostovsky is the author of nine books of poetry, most recently Is That What That Is (FutureCycle Press, 2017). He makes his living in Boston as an ASL interpreter and Braille instructor. (Source)
Read more poems by Paul Hostovsky • Find books by this poet on Amazon • Bookshop • Website • Or view my library
ENDNOTES
- Explore other works in pursuit of: curiosity • family • childhood • Or browse the index
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