Happier Person Poem by Bonnie Cote

childhood was great
filled with trains
wading in the lake
rocky ridge park
and indian echo caverns
the wooden playground
taco bell, ronald mcdonald
the york fair, family reunions
and big yardsales
i walked in streams
played with cousins
went to dutch wonderland
the west manchester mall
endless hours at amusement parks,
hershey chocolate world
arcades, movie theatres
and toys R us
mom played games with me
and my best friend lived across the street
i rode my bike wherever i wanted
dug holes in the dirt
wore pretty pink dresses
and read lots of books
i had most every toy
from barbies
to legos
nana taught me to read
to tie my shoes
to cook
to drive a car
mom taught me to ride
a bike
and denny would take us
places like the apple festival
and long john silvers
one time we went to altoona
i learned other things as i got older
that myth is as real as reality
if the those who perpetrate it believe it
and you'd better not give out more trust
than you can shake a stick at
because that world and this one
just don't jive and it isn't always clear
where the lines are
when you never know what to expect
and roses not only have thorns
but might as well be daggers
and the grave is cold
and unending
however, november rain is lovely
and thirty feels like thirteen
being blind doesn't always mean
you are missing out on anything
good things come in candy wrappers
and the very best things are so subtle
that most will never find them
but my heart is afire with love at all times
and me?
well, a happier person,
there could not be.