the force of happiness

5.17.19 ~ bark of river birch, my garden

Such is the Force of Happiness —
The Least — can lift a ton
Assisted by it’s stimulus —

Who Misery — sustain —
No Sinew can afford —
The Cargo of Themselves —
Too infinite for Consciousness’
Slow capabilities —

~ Emily Dickinson
(The Poems of Emily Dickinson, #889)

5.17.19 ~ new leaves of our dwarf river birch

We planted this tree in our garden in the spring of 2014 and it has brought me so much happiness. Especially in this season, when the leaves come in and start competing with the bark curls for visual interest. When I open my kitchen shades each morning and see more and more green ~ pure joy. In summer it protects the kitchen windows from the harshest afternoon sun.

Yes, happiness is uplifting, and misery weighs us down, too heavy, impossible to carry alone. Grieving a loss is often a slow process, and might last a lifetime.

I count having the company of this tree as one of my many blessings.

8 thoughts on “the force of happiness”

  1. What a gorgeous post – poem and tree – a reminder of how happiness makes us shine with light, and how heavy we become with sadness. Nature is there for us to lift the gloom and remind us of the joy of …. LIFE!

  2. The little things can add so much joy to our lives. This spring I’ve really enjoyed looking out my kitchen window each morning to see the tulips, daffodils, and other flowers blooming in the yard. It is such a serene, relaxing scene; and gets the day off to a good start.

    1. So true! You’re lucky to have a yard, it sounds so beautiful. (Living in a condo complex I have a parking lot for a front yard, which is why planting this tree was the perfect solution to my morning view. 🙂 ) A delicious sip of nature is the perfect way to start the day.

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