Risus Dei
Methinks in Him there dwells alway
A sea of laughter very deep,
Where the leviathans leap,
And little children play,
Their white feet twinkling on its crisped edge;
But in the outer bay
The strong man drives the wedge
Of polished limbs,
And swims.
Yet there is one will say:--
'It is but shallow, neither is it broad'--
And so he frowns; but is he nearer God?
One saith that God is in the note of bird,
And piping wind, and brook,
And all the joyful things that speak no word:
Then if from sunny nook
Or shade a fair child's laugh
Is heard,
Is not God half?
And if a strong man gird
His loins for laughter, stirred
By trick of ape or calf--
Is he no better than a cawing rook?
Nay 'tis a Godlike function; laugh thy fill!
Mirth comes to thee unsought;
Mirth sweeps before it like a flood the mill
Of languaged logic; thought
Hath not its source so high;
The will
Must let it by:
For though the heavens are still,
God sits upon His hill,
And sees the shadows fly;
And if He laughs at fools, why should He not?
'Yet hath a fool a laugh'--Yea, of a sort;
God careth for the fools;
The chemic tools
Of laughter He hath given them, and some toys
Of sense, as 'twere a small retort
Wherein they may collect the joys
Of natural giggling, as becomes their state:
The fool is not inhuman, making sport
For such as would not gladly be without
That old familiar noise:
Since, though he laugh not, he can cachinnate--
This also is of God, we may not doubt.
'Is there an empty laugh?' Best called a shell
From which a laugh has flown,
A mask, a well
That hath no water of its own,
Part echo of a groan,
Which, if it hide a cheat,
Is a base counterfeit;
But if one borrow
A cloak to wrap a sorrow
That it may pass unknown,
Then can it not be empty. God doth dwell
Behind the feigned gladness,
Inhabiting a sacred core of sadness.
'Yet is there not an evil laugh?' Content--
What follows?
When Satan fills the hollows
Of his bolt-riven heart
With spasms of unrest,
And calls it laughter; if it give relief
To his great grief,
Grudge not the dreadful jest.
But if the laugh be aimed
At any good thing that it be ashamed,
And blush thereafter,
Then it is evil, and it is not laughter.
There are who laugh, but know not why:
Whether the force
Of simple health and vigour seek a course
Extravagant, as when a wave runs high,
And tips with crest of foam the incontinent curve,
Or if it be reserve
Of power collected for a goal, which had,
Behold! the man is fresh. So when strung nerve,
Stout heart, pent breath, have brought you to the source
Of a great river, on the topmost stie
Of cliff, then have you bad
All heaven to laugh with you; yet somewhere nigh
A shepherd lad
Has wondering looked, and deemed that you were mad.
poem by Thomas Edward Brown
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Related quotes
Go Ahead....Laugh
Go Ahead....Laugh
They say..laughter is the best medicine
I say, laughter is a natural expression of joy
The musical sound of a happy heart inside
The serenity and pleasures it gives.
I thank God for the many friends i met
Friends who give me joy and pleasure
Friends who are gifted with laughter and giggles
And share with me their chuckles
A cheerful heart, will drive your sadness away
A laughter a day, will stretch that ugly muscles a day
So go ahead and have that hearty laugh
Just don't let your neighbors hear and see you
And think you are crazy...nya ha ha..but they are, anyway..LOL
psst..have a good laugh..go ahead, and i'll laugh with you, too..he he he
poem by Meggie Gultiano
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Sonnet- Laughter
If we can laugh, our heart-aches disappear!
Our minds become freed off tensions and stress;
If we make others laugh, they lose their fear,
And become dear, starting to us caress.
Laughter is good for both the young and old;
Laughter can turn a foe into a friend;
Laughter can help forget our woes, be bold;
Laughter can bring to grief, an early end.
Laughter is life’s most precious medicine;
Laughter is soothing balm for all our ills;
Laughter is euphoric much more than wine,
Causing no harm to one or increase bills.
Then laugh and be merry whenever you can,
For, that’s the way to live life better, man.
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: Laughter
If we can laugh, our heart-aches disappear!
Our minds become freed off tensions and stress;
If we make others laugh, they lose their fear,
And become dear, starting to us caress.
Laughter is good for both the young and old;
Laughter can turn a foe into a friend;
Laughter can help forget our woes, be bold;
Laughter can bring to grief, an early end.
Laughter is life’s most precious medicine;
Laughter is soothing balm for all our ills;
Laughter is euphoric much more than wine,
Causing no harm to one/ increasing bills.
Then laugh and be merry, whenever you can,
For, that’s the way to live life better, man.
poem by John Celes
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The End Of Laughter
O never laugh again!
Laughter is dead,
Deep hiding in her grave,
A sacred thing.
O never laugh again,
Never take hands and run
Through the wild streets,
Or sing,
Glad in the sun:
For she, the immortal sweetness of all sweets,
Took laughter with her
When she went away
With sleep.
O never laugh again!
Ours but to weep,
Ours but to pray.
poem by Richard Le Gallienne
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Fundamental of Liar Chapter XXII: Laugh
there's laugh, forced laugh
laugh, gentle rejection without word
laugh, looking sympathy with laugh
laugh but actually doesn't laugh
hiding anger, hiding pain
cheerful laugh but alone inside
why you try hard to impress people?
tired and wounded more
laughing your foolish joke
and crying life in the dark room
laugh for yourself
laugh with your heart
and you'll never regret to try an honest laugh
poem by Maria Sudibyo
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Me and Laughter Together Always
Sometimes I laugh out loud
Showing you that I could care less what you have to say
All that matters is that my feelings are hidden
Hiding from those who judge me and those who love me
And Laughter helps me do just that
Laughter is my better half
Laughter stands with me when I’m bored
Laughter comforts me when I want to cry
He keeps me company through grief and through happiness
For better or worse, in sickness and health, through thick and thin
I love Laughter and Laughter loves me back
And yet you don’t know why Laughter makes Me
Look deep into my eyes when I laugh and you’ll see
You will find all the hate, all the pain, and all the hurt
But if that’s all you see
You’re not looking deep enough
Look past the tears that I won’t allow to flow
Look past the memories that I can’t let go of
And when you see through all the hate, all the pain and all the hurt
You'll find Me
I cover Me up with Laughter
There are none who can see the true Me
They can’t see through my Laughter
And if you should happen to see Me
I won’t need Laughter to hide anymore
Because I can cry on your shoulder
I can smile and enjoy you company without a single sound
Only then, Laughter won’t be my protector
Until then, it’s Me and Laughter together always
I hide my feelings through Laughter
So if you’re trying to figure out what I’m thinking,
Laugh with me and you will then see...-Me
poem by Nyoka Mitchell
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Laugh, Laugh, Laugh
Laughter,
Best medicine,
Happy life!
Laugh Laugh Laugh,
Don't take the strain into heart,
Lead a happy life!
Laugh out loudly,
Don't give chance for others to laugh,
Lead a contented life!
Laughter is the quality,
Offered only to the mankind
Who thinks what is right!
poem by V.K. Kanniappan
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Laugh Out Loud
Have we lost our sense of humor?
We must laugh on every day.
For without laughter life is dull
Like a stage without a play.
Funny little quips that people say
are the gems that sparkle and shine
Right within a placid soul
that's in need of bright sunshine.
So laugh inside, laugh out loud,
Laugh whenever you can.
And when you think you've laughed too much,
laugh out loud again.
poem by Edwina Reizer
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Laughter, The Best Medicine?
what's in a sound, thaT HAS NO WORD?
laughing in enjoyment, or at a spirit broken
laughter brings us closer, or for a fight will gird
laughter has a resonance, meaning many things unspoken
being me, i may laugh, i may cry
but i will only half the time laugh with most of you
the laughter that a good man, a good joke may buy
is the laughter that soars joyful in skies of blue
the laughter that needs a victim? maliscious and so wrong,
you're resonance is dissonance to this poets soul
in this errant, poetic whim, this sad and mournful song
i speak of sounds emanating from a hole
not a heart.
hope, Emily says, sings without words
like the morning majesty of a symphany of birds
nobody i would condone, laughs at birds, only
somehow, with them, but if they're hurt, like maybe you or me
have a poets heart, and share some hope
what may start with a smile
at hurt feelings, or a snit, or a mope
might become a laugh, in a little while
i've heard of many a hopeful smile
try one on
before the music is all gone
and you're left at break of dawn
alone
laughing...
poem by Tommy Lee Rage
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Grade 9 English Project - What Makes Laughter So Funny?
People say there is nothing funnier then laughter
You can even chuckle some long hours after
You laugh at what is sometimes seen
You laugh at things you do not mean
Yet some where in all hilarity
In amongst that crazy parody
Will Someone please tell me, I’ll give you money
What makes laughter, so darn funny!
Why, when you laugh do people laugh too?
Laugh not at things you say or things you do
Its crazy how when nothing’s funny
People laugh and clutch their to tummy
Will anybody tell me? Wouldn’t you? please, sonny
What makes laughter so gosh darn funny!
Yes, What makes laughter so gosh darn FUNNY!
poem by Matt Rappolt
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Invocation Of Laughter
O, laugh, laughers!
O, laugh out, laughers!
You who laugh with laughs, you who laugh it up laughishly
O, laugh out laugheringly
O, belaughable laughterhood - the laughter of laughering laughers!
O, unlaugh it outlaughingly, belaughering laughists!
Laughily, laughily,
Uplaugh, enlaugh, laughlings, laughlings
Laughlets, laughlets.
O, laugh, laughers!
O, laugh out, laughers!
poem by Velimir Khlebnikov
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A Laugh And Smile
The other day I spoke to someone
on Microsoft Messenger.
During our conversation,
I said something that made them laugh.
It was nice to see a laugh light up their face.
When I said it was good to see them laugh and smile
they replied with a statement
that really struck home with me.
They said whenever they are having a bad day
and they come online to speak to me.
For a little while, their bad day
vanishes into a laughter and smile.
It is a nice feeling inside that you can make
at least one-person laugh and smile,
putting a little sunshine into someone’s bleak day.
Just imagine what would happen
if we did that to one another each and everyday.
We would have a world of laughter
and the tears would flow with joy instead of sadness.
Therefore, as we move forward through each New Year,
let us all try to make someone
for a little while laugh and smile.
1 January 2009
May everyone who reads this think of what I said. Have a happy and prosperous New Year to each and everyone.
poem by David Harris
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Laugh…….
We laugh today; we'll laugh tomorrow
Over today's joy and yesterday's sorrow
Nothing is permanent, nothing is forever
So we laugh to forget and with sorrow sever
From our happiness' mirth to laugh in play
So merry is the soul who laughs away
The pain life brings, the pain of being
Laughing till joy from pain is fleeing
To where? Our panacea of hearty laugh
I guess it's better than pain's angry wrath
Laugh…….
poem by Kevin Michael Murphy
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Laugh-making
under the shadow
on the green sunny meadow
by the rounded mossy stone
both ate ripe watermelon
he made her laugh
her bubbling laughter
made him love her
then they made love
under the blanket
he makes her laugh
she loves his manner
to make her laugh...
The golden gate
to love, my love,
is maybe...laughter
Make me laugh...
poem by ONElia AVElar
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Live with Laughter
So much time passess
We have moments of saddness
At other times it seems like we are passed depressed
One thing will keep us together
Its the sound of joy
Laughter from a little kid
The sound of there high pitch laughter
The laughter at every new thing they see
Laughter makes our day better
Laughter makes our life worth living
Nothing can make you feel better rather than laughter
So make someone laugh make yourself laugh and live life
poem by Lexie Bousman
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Why Does Loneliness Weep In Wisdomful Silence
When the sun shows off its yellow teeth
In my eyes full of sleep
I laugh
And tie up all my sufferings in a knot
To put them in my heart's almirah.
When darkness and silence together
Knock on my window
I laugh
And birds resting on my lips
Fly away.
When for the sake of a handful of water
Empty and hypocrite hands
Fill up with prayers
I laugh
And in the rain of my laughter
Dry lakes quench their thirst.
But when in my wisdom filled silence
She does not acknowledge my existence
I laugh
And laughing, I start crying......!
(Translated by Samina Amjad)
poem by Naseer Ahmed Nasir
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Your Laughter
Take bread away from me, if you wish,
take air away, but
do not take from me your laughter.
Do not take away the rose,
the lance flower that you pluck,
the water that suddenly
bursts forth in joy,
the sudden wave
of silver born in you.
My struggle is harsh and I come back
with eyes tired
at times from having seen
the unchanging earth,
but when your laughter enters
it rises to the sky seeking me
and it opens for me all
the doors of life.
My love, in the darkest
hour your laughter
opens, and if suddenly
you see my blood staining
the stones of the street,
laugh, because your laughter
will be for my hands
like a fresh sword.
Next to the sea in the autumn,
your laughter must raise
its foamy cascade,
and in the spring, love,
I want your laughter like
the flower I was waiting for,
the blue flower, the rose
of my echoing country.
Laugh at the night,
at the day, at the moon,
laugh at the twisted
streets of the island,
laugh at this clumsy
boy who loves you,
but when I open
my eyes and close them,
when my steps go,
when my steps return,
deny me bread, air,
light, spring,
but never your laughter
for I would die.
poem by Pablo Neruda
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Laugh Clown Laugh
Laugh Clown laugh,
that's what they want me to do.
I guess I'm doing something right
because this Clown made you laugh too.
Laugh Clown laugh,
make everyone laugh real hard.
Besides, Who would it hurt?
Will anyone notice
how it has scarred?
Laugh Clown laugh,
but only for a while,
at least until you see
that the humor is in your denial.
poem by Cecelia Warner
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Hold not thy laughter
Hold not thy laughter
For that joyful sound
I am forever after, seeking when you are around
Waiting for it to chortle, in the background
Hold not thy laughter
As it fights to escapes thy lips
To send me on joyful trips
Your giggles and cackles
Harmlessly tend to baffle
Your happy facial expressions
Paint only a gleeful picture of inspiration
As we rejoice to thy jubilant noises in full attention
Hold not thy laughter from the heart
Hold not thy laughter until we part
Hold not thy laughter as we make a start
When I dispel in my gloom
Thy laughter delivers me
Safely from my state of doom
Sadness runs outside from my room
Happiness inside glows with a boom
As my rosy cheeks mirthfully blossom
Hold not thy laughter as we cheerfully chat
Hold not thy laughter when you publicly fart
Hold not thy laughter whatever the format
A giggle, a chuckle, a titter not a snigger
Laugh it out whether thin or fat
Fill the air, my dear
Laugh it out before it scats out flat
Copyright 2006 - Sylvia Chidi
www.sylviachidi.co.uk
Check out my latest 'Justice & If I were a girl'
poem by Sylvia Chidi
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Laugh
Love laughed at you and made you blue
Now heres what you should do
Well laugh, though your heart is breaking in two
Yeah laugh, dont let them know he hurt you
Well laugh and pretend true love will come again
Yeah laugh, laugh and laugh
Laugh, though the one you love is really gone
Yeah laugh, even though youll be alone
Yeah laugh and pretend true love will come again
Yeah laugh, laugh and laugh
Well let me hear you laugh now
Though its hard, so hard for you to do
Laugh with me, cos you see
Ive been there too
Well laugh and pretend true love will come again
Yeah laugh and believe its not the end
Yeah laugh like a clown
Dont let your heart break down
Yeah laugh, laugh and laugh
Love laughed, its true
But look at you
Now youre laughing too
song performed by by Roy Orbison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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