Clap your Hands

Confused about the definition of happiness.

Two people told me that it was the happiest they’ve ever felt 

In one day 

But I don’t know what happy is

Happy is when you can’t rub a smile off your face 

Or is that mania?

Only our parents and friends wish happiness upon us 

At least from what I heard, and only on your birthday 

The rest of the time, they ask you why you’re not

Make you believe that you’re sad

Just because your lips are downturned 

That day 

“Why are you sad?”

It would make me happier to know the answer to that question 

I’ve got all that I need, but what is 

All 

And what is 

Need 

When all I need is happiness 

And I’m not sure if I caught it

Net clenched in a stubborn fist 

Swirling around a quantum of joy 

Trying to catch that theoretical butterfly to pin down

Display it

To convince the others 

That need convincing 

That you’re normal

And happy 

“Happiness: that’s all that matters”

Yet I try to distract myself from myself 

By avoiding the happy and doing the work 

That makes you think about pens 

And grades

And competition 

And by doing this, and maybe

Achieving this 

I might be happy

Maybe by shopping

And swearing: expressing myself whoamI?

And eating well 

And snoozing until the sun touches down to kiss the valley

I’ll be satisfied

They tell me to repeat

So I memorize:

I 

feel

…

good 

Reviews

[Bacchus]

I really liked this-
refreshingly different
about a topic that we talk about all the time.
Well done.

[Inject Positivity]

Really thought provoking piece.... the poems speaks of some very true things which most of us go through.... as you have started the poem with a very important question and we often don't know the answer.... it's funny to think you know we just lost ourselves in this material world so we have lost the feeling of true happiness, we just put our security on temporary things now and hope for a happiness that we can never find... superbly done....many readers will find it very thought provoking.... full ratings....