After my post yesterday about poetry being the truest form of journalism, I thought I would share a few poems I love.

What you must know about me is that I despise pretentious poems; poems it would take a PhD. to understand. If that is your jam, go for it. But it is not my jam.

I like a poem I can pick up and read and at least think I understand it. A poem that makes me feel something. Something real and true and honest.

For example, here is one by Raymond Carver, simply called Happiness:

So early it's still almost dark out.

I'm near the window with coffee,

and the usual early morning stuff that passes for thought.

When I see the boy and his friend

walking up the road

to deliver the newspapers.

They wear caps and sweaters,

and one boy has a bag over his shoulder.

They are so happy

they aren't saying anything, these boys.

I think if they could, they would take each other's arm.

It's early in the morning,

and they are doing this thing together.

They come on, slowly.

The sky is taking on light,

though the moon still hangs pale over the water.

Such beauty that for a minute

death and ambition, even love,

doesn't enter into this.

Happiness.

It comes on unexpectedly.

And goes beyond, really,

any early morning talk about it.

Isn't that gorgeous?

Doesn't it make you yearn for those simple friendships that only childhood can hold?

Doesn't it make you want to sip your coffee tomorrow morning and look out the window to see what you might see?

Do you see how powerful a poem can be?

Photo by juan pablo rodriguez on Unsplash