The Happy Ones Poem by RIC BASTASA

when the one
that concerns them
died that afternoon

when for days she
called them all fools
one by one she called
them names

names that they
never accepted but
with due respect they
all answered her with
the decency of silence

when she died
and they mourned
and they did not sleep
for nights

i will not say it
but i know what they really mean.

when i left them
i am happy

i know who they are
and i left them just
the way they are

and we think we are
the happy ones.