“Where to Find Happiness”—by Casey O’Neill
The purest form of happiness is children’s laughter.
They know not of life’s inequities nor of deep despair.
When I hear a child laughing, my heart melts instantly,
For a child’s innocence is something to be treasured.
This precious part of life must be preserved and never taken for granted;
A child’s naivety is more than a blessing in disguise.
Innocence becomes corrupted by reality, a wolf dressed in disguise.
He walks around perverting a child’s dreams and stealing away his laughter.
As quick as a flash of lightening, his terrible wish is granted:
The child is thrown into a dark, hopeless pit of despair.
The child must choose either good or evil (something he never before had treasured).
With the snap of a finger—and one poor decision—innocence vanishes instantly.
The child is now a teenager; he grew up instantly:
His view of the world is tainted by his experience with the wolf in disguise.
Instead of playing games like “tag,” “hide-and-seek,” and “search for the buried treasure,”
He looks to alcohol, drugs, and sex, hoping to find some laughter.
But his laughter is no longer genuine. No, it is full of despair
Because of the corruption this world with its filth has granted.
Before you know it, he’s an adult who says, “I’m unhappy”–a feeling he had granted.
Life becomes mundane, and the emotion of joy fades instantly
With the continuous and strenuous reminder of his despair.
Instead of sincerely being happy, he wears his smile as a disguise,
For that once pure, innocent boy no longer remembers his laughter.
“What then,” he thinks, “should be treasured?”
Helplessness, purposelessness, and hopelessness—these are what have been treasured
And stored in a dark, mysterious barn, the barn of wicked wishes granted.
It is here that the wolf gorges down all children’s laughter.
He devours their joy, licking it up like a bloody chicken murdered instantly.
He enjoys the taste of innocence being shredded to pieces; that’s why he wears a disguise.
His deception causes confusion for the vulnerable, causing them everlasting despair.
But certain adults, the lucky few out there, overcome their despair.
They look past all the pain, the shame, the corruption and focus on what was once treasured.
They realize that while it is easier to blame the wolf in disguise,
It is better to accept the fact every experience in life is one that has been granted
For the purpose of learning a lesson. While it may not be learned instantly,
Only time will restore you back to that place of beautiful childhood laughter.
Don’t wear a disguise, and don’t take lessons for granted;
Otherwise, you will spend life dwelling in despair instead of relishing in the treasured,
Precious moments of childhood. View life as such, and you will instantly, permanently lose your laughter.
Post submitted by Casey O’Neill
An article that has been circulating on Facebook over the past week, entitled “Are Rick Santorum’s Comments on Higher Ed Out of Step With the Public View?,” has frustrated several UCLA college students.
As I was perusing through books at an outdoor book sale one day, I came across this novel. I was immediately intrigued by the cover of the book so I decided to purchase it on a whim (it was only $8 so I figured why not). I have heard great things about the works of Oscar Wilde but never before had I actually read any of his novels myself so I was excited to start reading the story to see what all the hype was about.
