Raven 88: Unhappy

The waning gibbous moon, partially behind a cloud, the evening cool grass, blossoms on a tree along the walk, the glass of water sitting on the table -- are answers to all you could ask.

Case

Raven met Grouse moping around one day and asked, "How's it going, Grouse?"
Grouse said, "I'm so unhappy."
Raven said, "What do you think might make you happy?"
Grouse said, "I don't know. I don't ask for much."
Raven said, "Way too much."

Verse

How happy is the little stone --Emily Dickinson
the trees . . . give off such hints of gladness --Mary Oliver

Mary's trees, Emily's little stone,
Cheerful stars, a merry brook,
Shy gemstones, humble dirt,
Lugubrious rain, angry thunder,
Cruel frost or oppressive heat
Vengeful flood or punishing drought
Sanguine dawn and pensive dusk --

Ask any of them, "What do you want?"
They have nothing to answer.

Case by Robert Aitken; introduction and verse by Meredith Garmon

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