LAUGHTER

When’s he sad or stressed,

he settles himself down

and listens for laughter.

He knows it’s all around him,

in houses across the street,

in towns in his state,

in tall forests where friends

at this very moment

are making merry.

He sees in his mind

a world where one-third

of the people are probably laughing

with light hearts

right at this moment,

this serious moment in his life

when he’s so worried

about one thing

or another.