When I see the boy and his friend
walking up the road
to deliver the newspaper.

They wear caps and sweaters,
and one boy has a bag over his shoulder.
They are so happy
they aren't saying anything, these boys.

I think if they could, they would take
each other's arm.
It's early in the morning,
and they are doing this thing together.

They come on, slowly.
The sky is taking on light,
though the moon still hangs pale over the water.

Such beauty that for a minute
death and ambition, even love,
doesn't enter into this.

Happiness. It comes on
unexpectedly. And goes beyond, really,
any early morning talk about it.

~ Raymond Carver

Raymond Carver is recognized as one of the most important short story writers of the 20th century and is recognized for having rejuvenated this story form in the last decade of his life – the 1980’s. 

The poet, who once said that he was “hooked on writing short stories” described himself as “inclined toward brevity and intensity”.  Carver liked to write stories and poems that could be written or read in one sitting.  One of the reasons for this was the nature of his life.  Since he had to constantly perform blue collar jobs, such as sawmill or janitorial work, Carver only had a short amount of time to devote to his writing.

His focus was on the feelings of loss and sadness of ordinary, lower-middle class people – a minimalistic style known as Dirty Realism.  Carver died of lung cancer at the age of 50.