Happiness. It comes on unexpectedly....

I woke very early this morning. I looked out of the window into the dark road, watched as light crept in. Two boys, fourteenish, ambled towards my house; they kicked stones as they walked, listened to ipods, probably whistled. Just as they passed by, they looked up at my window, caught my eye, smiled; in fact, they smiled hugely, both of them. I've no idea where they'd been or where they were going, but this poem by Raymond Carver epitomised what I saw...exactly.

"Happiness"

So early it's still almost dark out.
I'm near the window with coffee,
and the usual early morning stuff
that passes for thought,
when I see the boy and his friend
walking up the road
to deliver the newspaper.
They wear caps and sweaters,
and one boy has a bag over his shoulder.
They are so happy
they aren't saying anything, these boys.
I think if they could, they would take
each other's arm.
It's early in the morning
and they are doing this thing together.
They come on slowly.
The sky is taking on light,
though the moon still hangs pale over the water.
Such beauty that for a minute
death and ambition, even love,
doesn't enter into this.
Happiness. It comes on
unexpectedly. And goes beyond, really,
any early morning talk about it.

Raymond Carver

Happiness, unexpectedly.......you can't beat that!