We Were Happy

Once a man of old age sat beside me and spoke,

And I listened and nodded polite.

He spoke of a difficult life long ago, 

Days of hard work and hardship and strife.

 

He told me how little they had to get by,

T'was a meager existence at best.

But I noticed that although his story was sad,

The look on his face did attest

 

That his memories did not bring sadness but joy,

So, I stopped him and questioned him why.

He looked quite surprised, but then smiling he said,

"Tis an odd thing I will not deny.”

 

“Although life in that day was a difficult road,

and we struggled each day for bare needs.”

“Yet from it we learned that which cannot be bought.”

“All in all, I recall…We Were Happy."

 

Then he smiled and spoke on, but my mind followed not

for it fixed upon what he had said.

And I questioned myself, "How could such a thing be?”

“From so little is happiness bred?"

 

So, I sat searching out cross the days of my time

and I sifted through memories untold,

and I could not declare, "We were happy" despite

holding all whereby "happy" is sold.

 

So, in trance I did sit til his stand broke my stare,

and he thanked me for lending him ear.

But before he could part, I looked deep in his eyes -

t'was a light and a peace that was clear.

 

As I watched him walk off, came a whisper inside

and a calm rested over my heart.

"You choose your own fate, whether happy or sad.”

 “Will you choose to make now a new start?"