Recipe for Happiness in Khabarovsk or Anyplace

One grand boulevard with trees
with one grand cafe in sun
with strong black coffee in very small cups

One not necessarily very beautiful man or woman who loves you

One fine day
__________

at City Lights
Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Recipe for Happiness in Chicago or Anyplace

One vast park with a swingset, a gazebo and a playing field
with one quiet bench in the shade
with a grande iced chai wet and dripping from the sun

Maybe a book, dogeared and warmly bent from familiarity
Or a journal with purple pages, telling a secret story
Biding time with an afternoon breeze in the leaves of the trees in the sun-dappled day redolent of heather and tension and song and

One dear friend, male or female, beautiful or not, to sit by your side

One very fine day.
__________

in my livingroom
Magdalena Cassel