It’s a sound welling up from a guttural wheeze,

Brought forth in the presence of an obvious need.

Clusters of friendship, opening a door

for giggles and snorts and guffaws galore.

Nature’s convergence is there to create,

though few evident species can cachinnate.

The turtle, the emu, the rabbit or shrew

None of these chortle or cackle or spew

forth the boisterous emission of laughter,

the kind leaving you breathless and heaving thereafter.

And from the next room, while I search the thesaurus,

sniggling and outbursts blend into a chorus.

I’ve captured a moment, but not twinkling insight

to laughter, the remedy cure-all tonight.

*****

It has been quite a while since I have had the inspiration to write a poem. The last half of 2023 has been a difficult time. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in late summer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. This evening, she was having a Zoom gathering with four of her best friends, and the laughter emanating from their conversations was infectious. Try as I may, I can’t reproduce their joy. But perhaps I shouldn’t worry about that, the joy is medicine for her. Thanks for reading. :)