Steel Notes Magazine
Poetry by Yvonne Sotomayor
January 2017
HAVE A NEW YEAR What is happiness ? Is it the fulfillment of our own expectations ? Our dreams ? Our order of how things should be ? Is it the absence of disappointment ? Is it the absence of friction ? Is it the absence of dissent ? If these conditions are so ; then happiness is stagnant . Happiness is the same There is no movement or change There is only one way---but who chooses ? Can we define happiness as the absence of compromise ? Then happiness is lonely There can only be one ‘ ruler ’. Me . Or you . So is happiness available to couples ? Being coupled means change and LOTS of compromise It means taking another into account It means reaching out and acquiescing at times To preserve the other ’ s sense of self in a unit So is happiness no sacrifice ? No giving up or in ? Is happiness selfish and self-serving ? Self-centered and narrow minded ? Is it limited in scope ? How do you choose it ? What is the structure ? What are the categories ? If it ’ s different for everyone ; can we agree on what it is ? How do you ‘ get it ’? Can you “ keep it ’? How long does it stay ? Who is it meant for ? Can we all have it ? Can you get ‘ enough of it ’? How much is a lot ? How much is too few ? Do we have a choice ? Can we choose it ? Did you choose it ? Will I ?
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