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?"

...Jeff Bresee