Hunting for Happiness

By Kacey Toney

She states that I write nothing “happy”

Happiness is a virtue, and in the pursuit of it, I trip

I crawl around, clawing for contentment, but my glasses have shattered

The sharp shards embed themselves into my greedy, unworthy palms

“Seeing is believing,” they say, yet feeling is my faith

The bonus prize I was blessed with: the capability to turn the emotional knob to the highest

degree, yet powerless to decrease the intensity

I have always been fragile, not quite a fresh flower

Moreso akin to a hand grenade

Handle with care until I become too much to take

Pull the pin and cast me to the clouds to shield yourself from my inevitable explosion

Dislike can never be achieved - only deep disdain

Sadness can never be a simple wave - only a tsunami

And falling in love can never be a gentle descent - only a face-first flip into infatuation

About Kacey Toney:

Kacey Toney is a freelance wordsmith who concentrates their portfolio around mental health. Their work is heavily influenced by their personal journey with post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar II disorder. Their best known work, "Breaking Point," was published in the 2020 edition of the Mississippi Poetry Society Student Contest, as well as Helpful Living Magazine: Issue 3. They hold a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, and dedicate their free time to advocating for marginalized groups in the north-central area of Mississippi. They reside in Starkville with their beloved life partner and their classic tabby.