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Happy Like Winnie the Pooh

If I could be happy like Winnie the Pooh,
Just thinking of good things in all that I do.
I’d just want some honey—a big honey pot—
I’d pay all my money, give all that I’ve got.

With love for my friends and with love for my family;
I’d sing like a bird that abides in an oak tree
I’d skip through the woods like a big Teddy Bear
No worries to weigh on and nary a care.

I’d cheer up old Eeyore and give him some hay
Then chase some sunbeams on a bright, sunny day.
Then Piglet and I would have so, so much fun
Relaxing at his home when our day is done.

I’d bounce up like Tigger on his springy tail,
When asking the postman if he had my mail.
I’d fly me a kite way up high in the sky
And find me a tasty new sweet honey pie.

I’d help that grouch Rabbit tend his carrot garden;
Awake Mr. Owl, then beg for his pardon.
Help Kanga and Roo with all their grocery shopping
And fill up his pouch while he still is hopping.

The days would be busy for this buzzing bee,
And Christopher Robin would be proud of me.
There’re others as well, for new friends you may find
When happiness is the state of your mind.

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Happy Haze

While we are growing older,
A fog fills up the head.
It often can be useful
Protecting us instead.

It filters out the bad things
And covers up the wrongs;
It clarifies our thinking
And brings to us sweet songs.

I never used a street drug
And hated alcohol.
My faculties work well;
My youth I still recall.

This haze I found helps me
Become a better man.
Remembering precious things
The best way that I can.

Don’t sweat forgetfulness
Of younger yesterdays.
It’s only your fog filter.
I call it Happy Haze.

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LTC Roy E. Peterson, US Army Military Intelligence and Russian Foreign Area Officer (Retired) has published more than 6,200 poems in 88 of his 112 books. He has been an Army Attaché in Moscow, Commander of INF Portal Monitoring in Votkinsk, first US Foreign Commercial Officer in Vladivostok, Russia and Regional Manager in the Russian Far East for IBM. He holds a BA, Hardin-Simmons University (Political Science); MA, University of Arizona (Political Science); MA, University of Southern California (Int. Relations) and MBA University of Phoenix. He taught at the University of Arizona, Western New Mexico University, University of Maryland, Travel University and the University of Phoenix.

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17 Responses

  1. Cheryl A Corey

    Two nicely entertaining poems, Roy. I love the concept of “happy haze”.

    Reply
  2. Gigi Ryan

    Dear Roy,
    When I saw the Winnie the Pooh picture, I was excited. When I saw that you were the author, I was thrilled. And when I read the poems, I was not disappointed.
    While the poem may be classified as for children, we all need a dose of the cheerfulness and giving nature of Pooh. You obviously know the original stories and characters well. I do, too, as they have been favorites to read to my children and now to my grandchildren.

    I am glad to have the concept, “Happy Haze” named. Recently I have thought that the difference between a happy older person and an unhappy one is what they choose to recall and how to choose to recall it.

    The happy person indeed is the one who, “filters out the bad things
    And covers up the wrongs;”

    Thank you for these uplifting verses!
    Gigi

    Reply
    • Roy Eugene Peterson

      Wonderful comments, Gigi. I thought someone might get the idea of “Happy Days” like the old tv series from my concept of “Happy Haze.” It seems like your thoughts approximate that.

      Reply
  3. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    What a beautiful antidote to my April Fools’ poem, Roy. Thank you for flooding the site with light.

    Reply
    • Roy Eugene Peterson

      Bless you, Susan. Your poem did not need an antidote. This just happened. I did not even know mine would be published today until I saw it this morning on my Outlook page.

      Reply
      • Susan Jarvis Bryant

        I think the timing of your poem is perfect, Roy. I thank Evan for that. As a huge fan of Winnie the Pooh, your wonderful poem is a beautiful nod to this honey-hungry bear and his quirky friends. I quoted from the Tao of Pooh and Shakespeare’s sonnets when I performed the wedding ceremony for my son and his wife… Winnie and Will paired very well indeed.

  4. Warren Bonham

    These were great and, like Gigi, I’m glad to have a positive name for the brain changes that seem to be occurring.

    Reply
    • Roy Eugene Peterson

      Thank you, Warren, for the kind words. I do like the idea of a positive name for good memories that may be a little clouded and a little adjusted over the years to filter out some of the less happy things in life.

      Reply
  5. Brian Yapko

    Roy, I really enjoyed both of these poems which are pure sunshine even while glowing in a “happy haze.” Focusing on the Pooh poem — children have an enviable innocence which we lose as we become older, more experienced and more cynical. Recognizing this, your poem goes beyond nostalgia into the realm of showing how a childhood figure can give us a lesson on how to be happy. Focus on good thought if you would be happy, be modest in goals if you would be satisfied, be of service if you would have purpose and be friendly if you want to have friends. Roy, you’ve given us work both charming and wise.

    Reply
  6. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Brian, you completely encapsulated my intentions in writing these poems. I was thinking about an overall heading of “Poems for Kids and Adults of All Ages.” Adults could take lessons from Winnie the Pooh and kids could understand more about their parents and grandparents. Thank you for your discernment and sharing the kind comments.

    Reply
  7. Shamik Banerjee

    Beautiful poems, Mr. Peterson. Happy Haze is very relatable to me although I’m not old (maybe it’s my grown-up soul). Tender and delightful pieces!!

    Reply
  8. Margaret Coats

    Good work, Roy! We all know Pooh’s liking for honey, but you focus here on his “relationships.” A happy life isn’t a honey pot, sweet as that may be, but the many things one can do for and with friends and acquaintances, being thoughtful about the nature and temperament of each. And as you conclude, this happy behavior may make more friends.

    “Happy Haze” does the happy thing of treating senior “brain fog” as good rather than bad. I often think the fog may be caused by the sheer amount of material gathered in the brain over many years of life. It may take effort to find what you want. That ability comes from exercise. One of my college friends and I discussed the need to exercise memory when we were 20 years old, and no longer able to recall everything as we seemed to be able to do earlier. I’m sure the intense study of college years added much to what we needed to sort! Anyway, we decided to periodically think back to earlier life and spend some mental strength on childhood scenes and happenings, as well as on our studies. It helps! And you are right about filtering out whatever might make us unhappy. Treasure the good memories and let them shine. Or as the haiku epigraph for my weaving poem says, “No scattering of blossoms once gathered.”

    Reply
    • Roy Eugene Peterson

      Margaret, you are so right. It is the relationships that matter and can make us happy. The Winnie the Pooh poem may seem like it is just for kids, but the lesson of sharing with others is one I felt important.

      Your “Happy Haze” comment is a fabulous sharing of your ideas at the age of 20 of exercising the memory and then continuing to do so over the years. In a great sense, writing poetry on nostalgic thoughts, of which I have done a lot, and you likely do, as well, is a way to refresh the memories of yesteryears and creates a healthy exercise for the brain. Your comments are wonderful and greatly appreciated.

      Reply
  9. James Sale

    Well done Roy: I like these because they remind me – us – of that eternal truth: that if we are to enter the kingdom of heaven we have to do it as children. I realise for myself that – without being too self-conscious or manipulative about it – that I am growing more childlike as I grow older and I rejoice in that. Clearly, you do too!!

    Reply
  10. Russel Winick

    “Happy haze” – you should copyright that, Roy! We need folks spreading happiness more than ever these days. Thank you!

    Reply

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