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.

Added: on November 9th, 2008 at 2:02 PM | Viewed: 126266 times | Comments (24)

Poet: Raymond Carver (Raymond Carver Art)
Poem: Happiness
Poem of the Day: Jul 19 2004

Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Happiness, has received 24 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Raymond Carver with others on the American Poems poetry forum!