Week 10 “Laughing as though…”
Updated: May 27
Poems written by Untold Stories poets in response to the prompt “Laughing as though…” from Dear Mama by Wanda Coleman:
Blessed Laughter
-Jayanthi Reddy
Let us mark this space
built for academics
and the discussion of serious things
with full bodied laughter.
The volume of a guffaw
varies directly with joy.
Let it echo against the ceiling
send it out into the atmosphere
bury it in your hands.
Hold nothing back.
Laugh with your mouth wide open
all teeth showing.
We laugh as though each giggle
is fanning a spark
that could keep us warm
and clear way for new life.
Sometimes we make a big deal
about small things,
because living for each other
is divine.
Why Do Our Eyes Twinkle?
- Desiraé Simmons
it’s funny momma
and it is, isn’t it
no matter what gets thrown
at us
we keep growing
rooting closer and closer
to the meaning
laughing at the ridiculousness
of it all
laughing as though
our lives
depended on it
i know it most clearly
as i look into her twinkling eyes
her grandmother, my mother
my grandmother, her mother
i laugh louder as i realize
i have seen the world through
my great-grandmother’s eyes
even though i only faintly
remember that one picture
of those silken silver braids
and those whiskers on top of her lip
and under her chin
in this moment
she nods knowingly
because finally, i get the joke
seeds we plant in history
births a new generation
to laugh out loud
her poppa plants trees
twelve in one day
for a future with shade
and juicy fruit
i couldn’t help but laugh
at the ridiculousness
until we planted our placenta
grounding us in tomorrow
and with luck
that cherry will taste sweet
will bring forth a joyous laugh
seemingly from nowhere
but we know
as we catch the twinkle
in eyes all around us
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