The art of Happines

Or the joy

ecstasy,

rapture,

delight,                                                       

satisfaction,

enchantment,

peace,

contentment,

enjoyment,

blessedness,

pleasure--

that can belong to

every human life-time?

Magical currents

flow through us

-it is

a truth

we cannot escape-

life

and the possibility of

the human mind

so beautiful

with wonder.

We can

invent

our

happiness

and color

destiny.

Magical sensations

in the universe

sublime and startling

cosmic secrets

I want to insist

be happy or die.

External evils,

mental weariness

bodily weakness,

pressure upon us

the illusion

of the commonplace

challenge our spirit

as we wrestle

with this chaotic world.

lump together

all the evils of your life

revolt against them

revolt

at the bottom of your soul

refuse to yield.

In a spirit

of absolute defiance

resist.

Gather together

the forces of the soul

embrace the mystery of life

embrace the mystery of death

swim in the water

leap into the air

fall back

and

deal

with life.

You have

to be able

to defeat misery

and even

the devil.

Force your soul to leap up

Force it to

Lump the evils together

Then

pull yourself together.

you are

air and water

and earth and fire

Don't begin to pity yourself

Say to yourself,

This is mine

this

life.

I taste

something to hate

here

in this place

of desolation

and misery

futile

last resort

wretched wretched

weary tedium

sick to death of the daily struggle

and burden of the mind

poor decisions

weak will

yet

i dont't

feel like ending it.

Butterfly

Once and again

we are all confronted

with the necessity

for some magic of the mind

to simply forget

the miserable

Here is your soul

watching this earth-life

watching it with love

with curiosity

a mysterious feeling

a strange sort of trance

will soon come

a sensation as if you

were the whole universe.

you escape from your misery--

you feel

hypnotized

by this world

you touch its sadness

with faint dim hope.