Hear me
read
the poem as
an MP3 file.
Watch me
read
the poem as
a YouTube video.
Video Music: Not the Streets You Used to Walk Along.
By Philipp Weigl.
Performed by Philipp Weigl
at the
Free Music Archive
under an Attribution
License.
Happiness is much like brushing teeth:
A semiconscious choice become routine,
Performed through practices sustained, though brief,
Perhaps without much thought for what they mean.
Years of I love you's, kisses, sweet good nights,
Touching, pleasuring, talking, giving, sharing,
Whimsical rituals, familial rites,
Establish a routine for mutual caring.
Nor could such happiness survive for long
The sheer redundancy of daily life,
Yearning for change that sometimes comes on strong,
Self-centered grievances that lead to strife,
If one did not each day renew one's love,
X-ing out the fear that in one moves,
Taking time at times to celebrate
Happiness, and choose again one's fate.
Copyright by Nicholas Gordon. Free for personal or non-commercial use.
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