I stumbled straight down by surprise,
To laughter and widening eyes-
But I jumped to my feet,
Made the misstep a beat
and waltzed as the crowd cheered my rise.
When facing a wall of fear and pain, I stand.
Laughing, as hope and calm slip from my hand.
I climb tree branches, easily, swiftly and timely.
Each thread a steady beam that holds me upright.
Up in the canopy, I cheer up, and start to sing,
A hymn of praise that only being there can bring.
I rise higher, holding trunk and bough with delight.
Each fork a foothold lifting up into the light.
I rejoice in the chaos of tangled twigs and leaves,
That encases me with living walls, roofs and eaves.
Their whispered voices rustle solace in the breeze.
Bringing peace and joy, untangling my spent unease.
A careless slip — I lose my grip and start to slide.
But the tree clutches me, with a sudden, saving guide.
It breaks my fall and sets me softly onto the ground,
Its roots bear and steady me — till deep peace is found.
Effervescence
There’s a cartoon I once adored,
Its colours danced, my young heart soared.
The screen would sing, the voices ring.
And joy was such a simple thing.
But years slipped past, the hues grew dim,
The songs grew faint, like an old hymn.
I packed it away with my forgotten toys,
Forgetting the spark of those innocent joys.
And then one day—it caught my eyes,
Through cousins’ giggles, a small surprise.
The theme song played, the laughter came,
And suddenly I was me again.
Like soda fizz beneath a cap,
Those bubbles rose, a sudden clap.
Nostalgia spilled, both sweet and wild—
A grown-up heart, a childhood child.
It told me this: the past still stays,
In quiet corners, in hidden ways.
And all it takes to bring it near—
Is a laugh, a song, a voice I hear.
Laughter creased my face
With the wideness of joy in a darling
Hallooing loudly, Hawaii!
Making me younger with weakly wrinkles,
It warmed my heart with a flaming ring of mirth.
And I liked it.
I watched the waves as they rose and fell,
Like the big flattered locks of a comely
Landlady combing her tresses on a windy, snoopy
Sunday morning.
And I loved it.
Who are next to be loved?
Lucy & Lucille.
One laughs
The other winces with laughter
When cold fleeting winds blow over
Our inchoate sensibilities.
And we love it —
Like we loved Lucy.
The setting
in your awe-inspiring
cheeks flushed
and sleepy eyes
& a grin giggling
at my black jokes
A true Australian,
just like me.
The Americans
will never get me,
thinks I'm tormenting
when I just have a really
dark sense of humor
that takes your breath away
with that cherished
and sparking
of your glow,
like a perfectly ripe apple
without bruising inside.
I do troll the humor-less
as its the pissing
of laughing
from your reactions
when they give me that
blank expression.
Walking in the front door with my sisters in tow, the phone on the sideboard in the dining room started ringing incessantly. Upon answering the phone, a very determent voice accosted my ear with, ‘You are the lucky winner in our draw to receive a Life Coat makeover for your house—‘
‘This is not my house …’
‘Well, may I speak to Mr “X”?’
‘No, sorry. My father passed away an hour ago. We have just returned from the hospital—‘
The register in his voice went up an octave: ‘Well, put your mother on the phone, then.’
‘She passed away last week—‘
‘Of all the [expletive] excuses I have ever heard …’ And with that he slammed down the phone.
laughter is
the best medicine
s.c.a.n.d.a.l.i.s.e.d
don’t judge
till you know
the story …
Beneath the sky’s deep purple hue,
Music calls, the laughter too;
Wheels turn slow, the lights all spin,
And pull us gently further in.
The air smells sweet with candy threads,
With buttered corn and warm baked breads;
A carousel of painted dreams,
It ripples on the moonlit streams.
I watch your eyes in neon glow,
They shine in ways you may not know;
The call of bells, the beating drums,
The thrill before the next ride comes.
We win no prize, yet still we keep
The moment safe, our hearts to steep;
For nights like these are never sold,
They live in us when we grow old.
As the tents fold up tight,
And lanterns fade into night,
We walk back slow, still side by side,
With all the joy we could not hide.
Cackles, snickers, chortles and squeals ease life's weight.
Laughter can completely reset our composure.
Humors random salves of mirth can ease feeling states.
Past times of paled poise were health fueled by laughs ardor.
Laughter can completely reset our composure.
Acute giggles often cause worthwhile tummy bunched aches.
Past times of paled poise were health fueled by laughs ardor.
Bonding laugh episodes can mold sweet memory shapes.
Acute giggles often cause worthwhile tummy bunched aches.
Laughs can floor lay us to mirth quake over and over.
Bonding laugh episodes can mold sweet memory shapes.
Laughing steers peace of mind like a kind chauffeur.
Laughs can floor lay us to mirth quake over and over.
Humors random salves of mirth can ease feeling states.
Laughing steers peace of mind like a kind chauffeur.
Cackles, snickers, chortles and squeals ease life's weight.
This may seem lame.
Let’s make it a game.
I’ll give you a clue.
You try to guess who.
Proceeding my entrance by just a short while,
Is often the presence or hint of a smile.
Used sometimes by women, more often by men,
Often, I start as a quaint little grin.
I can also be hardy, and sometimes quite loud,
And often I’m present amongst a small crowd.
If it is me, you want to invoke,
Share with the group, a funny joke.
If you want to seem happy from now ever after,
Invite me in, I’m best known as laughter.
Attended a garden party
full of fun
from dusk 'til dawn
filled with laughter
next door on the lawn
awoke the morning after
the night before
arose to wash
my hands and face
packed my bag
just in case
all was quiet
around the house
nothing heard
not even the spouse
what now where next
who really knows
always the eternal question
allow me now to propose
I'm open to suggestion
Good Sense Of Humour Blunts The Sharp Blades Of Reality Poetry
Contest //Sponsored by: Natasha L. Scragg
( 2nd Place )
Written: August 5, 2025
When life threw me a curveball,
I stumbled—then chuckled mid-fall.
Lumped knees, not pride, I wore like bent,
because sneering is something I've seen.
In chemo rooms and vestibules,
I frenzied dry jokes on aseptic walls.
Doctors simpered, nurses would beam—
a punch-line where the fear had been.
When agony thumped hard and sleep grew thin,
I let the silly light writhe in.
A meme, a whirl , a silly song—
made aching days feel less so long.
No, humour incurable or patch,
But it's the ally, not made to part.
It doesn't silence, hurt or truth,
but let me smirk with my aching tooth.
So here's my laugh, though life gushes beneath,
it's how I rise, not how I lament!
Woodsmoke, Laughter, and Warmth
Sunlight slanting through pines,
the creak's cold whisper,
a child's echo of laughter.
Bare feet on smooth stones, slick with moss.
Ankle-deep in melted snow, a shiver on the skin.
The taste of distant winter, sharp and clean.
Splintered light on the water's surface,
a fleeting mirror of a girl's wonder.
Flickering flames,
a circle of warmth,
faces I know by heart.
The mountain's breath a memory.
Drying by the fire,
the scent of woodsmoke clinging to a wet t-shirt.
Laughter, a low hum of stories,
spun in the smoke that rises and disappears.
Hands held out to the heat,
the red glow on fingertips.
The day a perfect circle, beginning and ending here.
A final, deep breath before the chill returns.
Unleashed, raw and real
Unstoppable reaction...
I'm untamed laughter.
We walk, hand in hand , we talk ~
cotton candy and caramel apples,
music, rides and fanfare,
sounds of joy and laughter in the air.
Let the festivities commence:
flashing lights and chaos,
screams and giggles,
rides and arcade games.
The carnies are hyped up
with their wiles and guiles
to entice us in all ways.
Summer is not complete 'til
we’ve had our fun at the carnival.
Reality and time warped ~
our youth tangible
within our grasp
under the spell of unbridled
gaiety at the carnival.
The sights and sounds of
youth and joy and memories.
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Laughter
I laughed with a Pride,
My laugh was lost with a shame .
Smile faded away like hot air.
Jokes where bad towards me .
Anger spread like a disease, disease that killed my laughter.
I used to feel the laughter in my stomach.
Where is my smile?
My life had changed,
Smile also changed.
Hateness became a friend.
Why it is hard to smile this days.
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