The Foolish Man

There across the field

happiness awaits

the grass is so much greener

the air so much fresher

from here I can see

the sparkle of smiles

the joy in the eyes of others

As I begin my trek across to the other side

the brilliance from their smiles

begins to fade

the grass grows sparse

joy seems to be making way

as sorrow moves in taking its place

I turn away

as the sight before me worsens with each moment

and as I glance behind me I find

the place I had come from is no more

There is no return to what once was

I felt the fool for stepping away from who I was

away from my place in life

thinking that the other side of the field

held the happiness I so desired

Now the happiness that I had

was gone as well

It has been said,

“The foolish man seeks happiness at a distance;

the wise grows it under his feet”

~James Oppenheim~