a literary journal

POETRY

Laugh


I’ve never quite understood it.

Your face starts to change,

the moment forgotten.

Only a glimmer,

quietly stooping

to slink and slither

past squinted eyes – it seems suddenly

caught in the throat, and pushed

through the chest’s convulsions

and spurts – erratic

jerks, now speckled with gags,

and a gangly arc

through the jaw. With copious bounce,

at last it bursts

past bolsters of pent-up madness.

 

Past bolsters of pent-up madness,

at last it bursts

through the jaw – with copious bounce,

and a gangly arc,

jerks now speckled with gags

and spurts. Erratic,

through the chest’s convulsions;

caught in the throat, and pushed

past squinted eyes. It seems, suddenly,

to slink and slither –

quietly stooping,

only a glimmer.

The moment forgotten,

your face starts to change.

I’ve never quite understood it.