Laughter and Loneliness

Full-footed, thunderous childhood laughter

Comes crashing recklessly through bedroom walls

In voices gay, happy; even terror-

Fied, and full of nothing but youthful awe.

Young blossoms reaching bloom has laughter softened,

As in every flower garden, rain

Showers’ soft wet kisses at times, often

Indiscriminately leave behind some pain.

With age, reality grows its weeds.

That sprout, choking naive laughter

And drooping the blossom and the leaves

And planting loneliness in the root thereafter.

Full-storm, thunderous childhood laughter

Comes crashing through the bedroom wall,

Sometimes gay, sometimes terrified,

Gales and squalls of youthful awe.

As every flower so often

Finds, the exhilarating rain,

With its moist, unrelenting kisses,

Can cause indiscriminate pain.