The Subtle Craft of Happiness: Insights from May Sarton

In a world obsessed with the relentless chase for happiness, it can be challenging to recognize what true happiness feels like and how it manifests within us. Drawing inspiration from Willa Cather's idea of happiness as a feeling of being 'dissolved into something complete and great,' and Iris Murdoch's concept of 'unselfing,' I delve into May Sarton's exploration of happiness in her poem 'The Work of Happiness.' Sarton beautifully illustrates that happiness is not an abrupt gift but a gradual creation, akin to the growth of a tree. It is woven from the quietude of daily life, where the unnoticed deepening of roots and the silent expansion of rings symbolize the inward work that lifts and brightens the tree.

Sarton paints a picture of happiness as something cultivated in the peace of familiar surroundings—a home where the air quietly stirs, dreams awaken, and the presence of lived experiences blesses the space. The poem suggests that happiness is a peaceful growth, a timeless presence that resonates with the stability and continuity of life. Through the imagery of a house filled with cherished objects and the gentle movement of air, Sarton conveys that happiness is deeply rooted in the inwardness and tranquility of one's environment.

This meditation on happiness invites reflection on how we inhabit our lives and the spaces we call home. It challenges the notion that happiness is a fleeting or external pursuit, proposing instead that it is an internal, ongoing process of growth and peace.