The Orange by Wendy Cope
“Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park. / This is peace and contentment. It’s new.” — Wendy Cope
Telephone Booth (number 905 1/2) by Pedro Pietri
“I am feeling too good / to report to work today, / if I feel sick tomorrow / I will come in early” — Pedro Pietri
Coconut by Paul Hostovsky
“and what on earth / and where on earth / and this was happiness / this little ball / of interest beating / inside his chest” — Paul Hostovsky
Love Comes Quietly by Robert Creeley
“What did I know / thinking myself / able to go / alone all the way.” — Robert Creeley
Egg by C. G. Hanzlicek
“There was a time when I wouldn’t / Have seen it as my future.” – C. G. Hanzlicek
Our Beautiful Life When It’s Filled with Shrieks by Christopher Citro
"I worry I can no longer pretend / enough to get through another / year of pretending
our happiness by Eileen Myles
"we had very little / money. enough for / a strong cappuccino / which we shared / sitting there & / suddenly the / city was lit." – Eileen Myles
The Obligation to Be Happy by Linda Pastan
"Happiness. I try to hoist it / on my narrow shoulders again—" – Linda Pastan