Love And Happiness

There are songs written about it.
People search in their churches.
With bowed heads and open eyes.
Hoping to connect to sermons and prayers.
Ignoring words the preacher says.
Not to realize,
That which is claimed in their lives to need.
Is love and happiness.
Nowhere near within their reach.

There are those in public inspecting others.
From head to toe.
As if on a mission,
To seek and find what's on their minds...
They can't let go.
Of that one perfect image,
That represents love and happiness.
Yet...
To feel it to know what that is to mean,
When asked to describe...
What love and happiness is?
Many will be heard to say,
'One who dresses to impress.
And has enough money,
To take care of business!'

'Business?
What business, who's business?
And how and when will they know,
What that is?'

'Well...
Hopefully,
Before and not after...
I see them for who they are.
And that attraction disappears.
Because people,
Are always pretending...
To be who they are not.
Especially when they are seen naked.
And all that love and happiness stops.'

'Then...
Perhaps,
It wasn't about love and happiness at all.'

'Tell me about it.
Today?
Finding someone who is honest.
And truthful about themselves?
Is difficult to determine.
Especially when they talk about,
What they've got and what they can do.
Just to impress somebody else.
And me?
I am looking for someone 'special'.

'And...
How would you know that?'

'If they don't pass my inspection?
Or dress the way I think they should dress.
Unable to impress my friends in public?
That's it.
That's how I will know.'

'Okay.
Then what about their ability,
To be sincere and respectful towards others?'

'On their time...yes.
On my time...that ain't happening.
You see...
Love and happiness is a skill.
Either you have it or you don't.'

'Oh?
And what do you bring to a relationship?'

'Me?
My willingness to accept disappointment.
However...
That to take for granted,
Is something I don't tolerate.
If my criticisms go unappriciated.'

'Good luck.'

'Good luck, for what?'

'Love and happiness to have and keep.
Is not a one way street.'

'That's what I hear from those,
Who pretend to be happy and in love.
I got that kind of time to waste.'

'That's selfish.'

'Whatever you call it,
I am not one to be looking up and down...
Anybody's street seeking for quality.
When that these days,
Is a rarity to see to believe.'

'Trust me.
You and so many are not alone.
But...
You know what?'

'No...what?'

'Inside is where love and happiness resides.'

'And kept to impress who?
That talk is for hypocrites.
And me?
I'm too down to Earth!'