Happiness 2-14
meeting at dawn; flamingos by the lake; the biggest, happiest surprise of all.
Author: winslow eliot
In the Heart of an Igloo
I have fallen in love again
the winter brought me here
on a boat of snow and slopes:
I can write again.
and the snow flakes
have become fat and wet
and press against my body
like the tongue of a lover
I went deep into the heart of the igloo
and there you were:
My pen. My paper. Heart into words.
I have fallen in love again.
Let me be the paper; and you the pen
Take me – I lie passive as the storm rages outside
Write me – I lay myself naked before you
You are the One
I am your Queen
and your Slave.
Valentine’s Day Decision
Two things touched me yesterday in my reading travels: the story in the New York Times of John Bowe’s (hopeless?) search for true romantic love and Norah Pollard’s poem St. Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day breaks my heart every year. There’s something about the high expectations lovers put on each other, the materialism, the yearning for Read more about Valentine’s Day Decision[…]
Happiness 2-14
building a sandcastle; firm tenderness; the city of York.
Happiness 2-12
visiting the island of Iona for the first time; the glow of a dandelion; your feet planted firmly on the ground.
Happiness 2-11
diving for pearls; confiding in a friend; an invitation to dine with the king.
Happiness 2-10
The Aran islands; new soles on old boots; solving a mystery.
Happiness 2-9
the hush before the storm; laughing babies; going back and forth on the Staten Island ferry, talking till dawn.
Happiness 2-8
the wind in your sails; the moment just before the first kiss; a fine silversmith.
Happiness 2-7
a mountain goat scaling the heights; reaching out; opulent theater costumes.
Happiness 2-6
polishing the silver; imagining when we finally meet; the white cliffs of Dover.
Happiness 2-5
oak barrels in a wine cellar; the sound of the ocean in a seashell; falling in love.
Happiness 2-4
an icon in a small Greek church; an early morning business meeting; laughing so hard it hurts.
Happiness 2-3
kissing under a large, colorful umbrella; diamonds from conflict-free sources; sailing to Tenerife.
Happiness 2-2
a wolf on the moonlit ridge; lunch with a sister; a gondola.
Happiness 2-1
large snowflakes melting on your eyelids; trusting a friend; breaking into a canter.
Happiness 1-31
sailing into the harbor at Papeete; composing a symphony; light from street lamps in the rain.
Happiness 1-30
lost in a book; the Manhattan skyline at dusk; a tender look.
Happiness 1-29
a frozen waterfall; planning for a garden of rare and wild roses; sentiment.
Happiness 1-28
moonlight reflected on ice; lavender eye pillows; the oldest tree in the world.
WriteSpa #22 – Writing Prompts
WriteSpa – An Oasis for Writers
For many years, every morning I write down three phrases that I call my ‘daily happinesses.’ These are simple – usually appealing – images that help me peek into another, more objective, reality.
In a way, they are also writing prompts. Each one of these little phrases conjures a vignette, a mood, a story, a person. For example: “Planning for a garden of rare and wild roses.” “Penguins diving into the sea.” “The silence before applause.” […]
Happiness 1-27
miniature roses; telling stories at bedtime; living on a boat.