Monday 13 January 2014

Day 541: Happy Ideas

'I had the happy idea to call myself happy'.

We're into mid-January now when the blues can set in. So here's an anti-dote poem to them!  (And blue doesn't always have to be sad by the way, just look at the painting here by Marc Chagall. See more beautiful blue works: here)

Happy Ideas - Mary Szybist  

'I had the happy idea to fasten a bicycle wheel to a kitchen stool and watch it turn.' - DuChamp

I had the happy idea to suspend some blue globes in the air

and watch them pop.

I had the happy idea to put my little copper horse on the shelf so we could stare at each other
all evening.

I had the happy idea to create a void in myself.

Then to call it natural.

Then to call it supernatural.

I had the happy idea to wrap a blue scarf around my head and spin.

I had the happy idea that somewhere a child was being born who was nothing like Helen or
Jesus except in the sense of changing everything.

I had the happy idea that someday I would find both pleasure and punishment, that I would
know them and feel them,

and that, until I did, it would be almost as good to pretend.

I had the happy idea to call myself happy.

I had the happy idea that the dog digging a hole in the yard in the twilight had his nose deep in
mold-life.

I had the happy idea that what I do not understand is more real than what I do,

and then the happier idea to buckle myself

into two blue velvet shoes.

I had the happy idea to polish the reflecting glass and say

hello to my own blue soul. Hello, blue soul. Hello.


It was my happiest idea.

2 comments:

  1. My favourite artist and a lovely poem,,,that should help ward off the blues today :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh I love Chagall so much! There is a beautiful poem on his work by a modern Irish poet - I must find it. A lovely find of a poem yes!

    ReplyDelete

I'd love to hear what you think! To leave a comment - comment as/sign in with your Google ID if you have one, or website or blog address, or if these don't apply, sign in as Anonymous, and leave your name if you like!