HAPPINESS IN THE MOUTH
The Chinese characters for "Coca Cola"
spell "happiness in the mouth"
which we Americans find quaint
and a bit risque'.
We say: all day my legs, my back,
my shoulders hurt
We never say: all night my knees, my neck,
my wrists were blissful.
We suffer head aches, ear aches and belly aches.
And how many heartaches have we felt? A lot.
But seldom are we gladdened by head joy,
by ear joy or belly joy.
And how often do we feel heart joy?
Not often enough.
We are a nation of whiners!
Our language gives us away:
You make me sick
You hurt my feelings
You are a pain in the neck
You are a thorn in my side
You are a royal pain in the ass.
I say: get off my aching back!
Your constant bitching makes me sick!
You make me wonderfully well
You gladden my feelings
You are a happiness in my throat,
a merriment in my bones
You are a delight in my pancreas
You are my blissful urethra
You are a royal joy in the ass
You are my body's felicity
You are my heart's delight
You are the bliss in my juices
You are a pleasure in every vertebrae
You are a happiness in the mouth.
