On the Importance of Bitter People

If every man was as happy as he'd like to be,
every woman as loved as she yearns to feel,
as full of hope and dreams as when they were children,
who would tackle global warming
or overpopulation
or saving spotted owls?
Instead, the world would go out to breakfast
or sleep in, then head for the beach.
It would curl up with a good book or in your arms,
aching with joy.
It would sing, riding down the highway 
on the back of a motorcycle that needs a new muffler,
or galloping through the woods on horseback, 
arms holding on just tightly enough,
laughing at the wondering eyes of passersby
or the occasional squirrel.
Cancer will not be cured by someone in love.
We need loneliness in the world,
bitter people,
their sense of crisis,
dramatic sighs,
endless commentary,
pained silences in which they figure out what's wrong
with the world and with us,
because we are too happy at the moment 
to notice.




(c)2012 Ellen Gillette


Poetry isn't necessarily factual, of course. Obviously there are happy people who are also sincerely devoted to causes and crises. I was just thinking of how distracting real joy can be. We really don't notice the negatives in life to the same degree when we are feeling great happiness, or  when we have no personal frame of reference that makes whatever-it-is seem so crucial. That led me to think about the importance of those who are focused on the problems. We may not enjoy being around them. They may push our buttons. But they get things done. Sometimes. Sometimes they just like the sound of their own complaints and expect US to fix it. Screw that.