Thinking To Be Happy Poem by RIC BASTASA

we begin with a basic proposition: i decide to be happy today
then we go to such deductions as: happiness is just a state of mind
so today, you proceed to something personal: i will be happy
i will smile, i will not be interfered by those who are sad and disturbed
i will decide my own mood, i will not be influenced by those who want me
to be sad, and down and depressed and anxious and dissatisfied,

i want to enjoy nature's bounty, appreciate the flowers blooming in the field
in fact, i have to pick some of them and smell and imagine all the beautiful
things around me, the trees, the clouds, the sun, the rivers, and at night
of course, the full moon sailing on the sea, and arrayed with a broom of stars
a shooting star, a distant glowing planet named Venus and try to see
the zodiac and the greeks gods and godesses posted in the heavens

i like to dance and spend my time in ballrooms and bars and drink my favorite beer and talk to my wonderful friends, i like to spend a romantic
night with my lover, and have sex and enjoy the warm body and caress the parts of the human being that i like to feast with my hands and fingers and lips, and i like to sleep after a night of passion, and dream and wake up
on a beautiful morning, and have coffee and breakfast and have the lively
conversation, and i like all the days of my life to be like this: HAPPY

i like to think that i am happy, i decide to be happy, i make my moods

but let me be honest and frank with you, let me ask you this question:

why am i still NOT?