Happiness (Poets United prompt)

But you never told me

Where I was to find this ‘happiness’

I so wanted.

I looked hard to uncover it

I searched for it beneath duvets

Betwixt the pages of dusty prayer books.

Tin cans of potions

Which left cotton behind my eyes.

I travelled in all directions of the compass

But no amount of orienteering revealed

Where this elusive fruit grew.

Until I met a man

With eyes so old and soft

They reminded me of God.

I asked him

He had not much. But time.

I could tell he knew.

So I asked him to show me

Where they cultivate this treasure.

He put a spindly finger to my temple.

Then waved it across the vista before us.

And sang

Happiness is found in opening your eyes wide in gratitude

Further and further

For all of this.