Philip Larkin. Born Yesterday.

Tightly-folded bud,I have wished you somethingNone of the others would:Not the usual stuffAbout being beautiful,Or running off a springOf innocence and love —They will all wish you that,And should it prove possible,Well, you’re a lucky girl.But if it shouldn’t, thenMay you be ordinary;Have, like other women,An average of talents:Not ugly, not good-looking,Nothing uncustomaryTo pull you off your balance,That, unworkable itself,Stops all the rest from working.In fact, may you be dull —If that is what a skilled,Vigilant, flexible,Unemphasised, enthralledCatching of happiness is called.