The Orange by Wendy Cope (1992)
Love has shown the narrator of this poem how happiness can lie in the little things, whether it’s a walk in the park, food shopping, or getting through a to-do list. As they share the segments of an orange among friends, we are reminded of the value of generosity.
At lunchtime I bought a huge orange
The size of it made us all laugh.
I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave—
They got quarters and I had a half.
And that orange it made me so happy,
As ordinary things often do
Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park
This is peace and contentment. It’s new.
The rest of the day was quite easy.
I did all my jobs on my list
And enjoyed them and had some time over.
I love you, I’m glad I exist.
Poem sourced from the Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/
