WHEN YOU ARE DOWN
 

When you are down,
you want all quiet,
you want to be left alone,
you want to hide from life.

You don't wish to talk,
you don't wish to discuss,
you don't wish to think,
yet, thinking is all you can do.

When you are up,
you want to hug,
you want to jump,
you want to exclaim!

You want to yell,
you want to help,
you want to share,
you want to love.

When you are down,
food has no taste,
but you can't stop eating,
and it puts you further down.

Jokes aren't as funny,
music is too loud,
everyone is out to get you,
people are starring at you.

When you are up,
food tastes delicious,
but you're too excited to eat,
you just can't sit still.

Everyone is your friend,
everyone wears a smile,
every song is your favorite,
you just can't get enough.

When you're down,
you want to hide,
when you're up,
you're so happy inside.

Happiness glows and radiates,
it begs to be shared,
it must be expressed,
it must be spread to all.

It is the state of life,
we all have it within our self,
to be either side of the coin,
no one decides but you.

You can be as happy as you choose,
regardless of what goes on,
it is your day and your time,
and you answer only to you.

You can make anything your excuse,
for feeling down and out,
you can point and you can blame,
you can kick and you can scream.

For certain life happens once,
this day will never be again,
you can use it or throw it away,
you can enjoy,
or you can pretend you don't know.
 

©Written by: Ed Kassirer
December 1, 2001