The Laughers
Spring!
And her hidden bugles up the street.
Spring -- and the sweet
Laughter of winds at the crossing;
Laughter of birds and a fountain tossing
Its hair in abandoned ecstasies.
Laughter of trees.
Laughter of shop-girls that giggle and blush;
Laugh of the tug-boat's impertinent fife.
Laughter followed by a trembling hush --
Laughter of love, scarce whispered aloud.
Then, stilled by no sacredness or strife,
Laughter that leaps from the crowd;
Seizing the world in a rush.
Laughter of life...
Earth takes deep breaths like a man who had feared he might smother,
Filling his lungs before bursting into a shout....
Windows are opened -- curtains flying out;
Over the wash-lines women call to each other.
And, under the calling, there surges, too clearly to doubt,
Spring, with the noises
Of shrill, little voices;
Joining in 'Tag' and the furious chase
Of 'I-spy,' 'Red Rover' and 'Prisoner's Base';
Of the roller-skates whir at the sidewalk's slope,
Of boys playing marbles and girls skipping rope.
And there, down the avenue, behold,
The first true herald of the Spring --
The hand-organ gasping and wheezily murmuring
Its tunes ten-years old....
And the music, trivial and tawdry, has freshness and magical swing.
And over and under it,
During and after --
The laughter
Of Spring!...
And lifted still
With the common thrill,
With the throbbing air, the tingling vapor,
That rose like strong and mingled wines;
I turned to my paper,
And read these lines:
'Now that the Spring is here,
The war enters its bloodiest phase...
The men are impatient....
Bad roads, storms and the rigors of the winter
Have held back the contending armies....
But the recruits have arrived,
And are waiting only the first days of warm weather....
There will be terrible fighting along the whole line --
Now that Spring has come.'
I put the paper down... Something struck out the sun -- something unseen;
Something arose like a dark wave to drown
The golden streets with a sickly green.
Something polluted the blossoming day
With the touch of decay.
The music thinned and died;
People seemed hollow-eyed.
Even the faces of children, where gaiety lingers,
Sagged and drooped like banners about to be furled--
And Silence laid its bony fingers
On the lips of the world...
A grisly quiet with the power to choke;
A quiet that only one thing broke;
One thing alone rose up thereafter...
Laughter!
Laughter of streams running red.
Laughter of evil things in the night;
Vultures carousing over the dead;
Laughter of ghouls.
Chuckling of idiots, cursed with sight.
Laughter of dark and horrible pools.
Scream of the bullets' rattling mirth,
Sweeping the earth.
Laugh of the cannon's poisonous breath....
And over the shouts and the wreckage and crumbling
The raucous and rumbling
Laughter of death.
Death that arises to sing, --
Hailing the Spring!
poem by Louis Untermeyer

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes

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

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Laughter
Laughter
Mole-like token let it be bestowed on you
Laughter
Bell-like liquid an outpour light and blue
Laughter
The joyful cords in music born blessed throats
Laughter
The happy rowing in plenitude golden boats
Laughter
Running wild shaking bellies to dance
Laughter
Sweet disease swell infective trance
Laughter
The tongue tip peeping to mock the hands of time
Laughter
The gift of he’s she’s of you’re we’re or I’m
Laughter
The blissful eyes when joyful tears go down
Laughter
The king or queen carrying the highest crown
©Miroslava Odalovic
poem by Miroslava Odalovic

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
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

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Laughter - Laughter
LAUGHTER - LAUGHTER
laughter - laughter here I come
to make my friend smile and calm
jump and jump to the left to the right
thru the day time and night
laughter - laughter here I am
to make true all the sweetest dreams
like my friend always has in sleep
thru the very beautiful night
that will never skip
laughter - laughter here we are
my friend and I are blab - blab - blab
and we are happy and careless
cause the better future are waiting for us
laughter - laughter, who are you?
WHAT! you don't recognize me?
I am sorry, I thought I know you
but just let it be
because a real friendship doesn't care who we are
(build a strong good friendship among us)
poem by Juahta Sitepu

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Your Laughter
YOUR LAUGHTER
Your laughter,
a blossoming bud,
eyes like peacock,
vivacious, sweet your laughter,
what are the feelings,
on your faces,
your laughter,
like a melodious rain,
creates sensations in the heart,
your laughter
benumbs the eyes
i pray,
you carry on laughing
poem by Dr. Ram Sharma

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
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

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
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

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Love, Laughter, And You
Three things that make my life complete
Are love, laughter, and you, my sweet
The laughter has lasted since day one
Loving you darling, has been so much fun
Whether it's giggles at the kitchen table
Or all out laughter wherever we're able
Each and every laugh, a symbol of our love
You're my everything, all I ever dreamt of
Our love, now that's a bit more serious
Shining through when our laughter is delirious
Starting the day with love's tenderness
Saying goodnight with a sweet caress
Love, laughter, and of course you.
You bring into my life the other two
From the day we met, and for every single day
Love and laughter in our lives will stay
poem by Harry J. Couchon Jr

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
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

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A Little Spark of Laughter
A little spark of laughter is what we need each day.
It's something like the apple to keep the doctor away.
Some can find the laughter. Their lives are pretty good.
Some would love some laughter. I know that they would.
But, laughter in their lives is only a memory.
It has been replaced with constant misery.
Their lives are torn
Their babies born
With sickness and disease.
They have no home.
They walk and roam
No blankets as they freeze.
No food to eat
No water sweet
And end to all their peace.
And so there is no laughter to help them everyday.
In fact there is no laughter to help in any way.
So, be thankful if you have the spark of laughter that you need.
And pray for those who have none, that God will intercede.
poem by Edwina Reizer

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I Hear The Laughter
Writers: leo sayer & johnny vastano
Listning to the falling rain
Always seems to bring her back again
I can remember like it was yesterday
Sound of her voice, her look upon her face
Like children playing childrens games
We joked and laughed at evry passing day
Im so much older, things have changed
Ive realized that now its just too late
I hear the laughter echoin through my brain
I hear the laughter then Im alone again
I tried to forget her heaven knows
Seems theres no direction left to go
I can remember like it was yesterday
I hear the laughter then Im alone again
Im alone again, alone again
I wish that I could hold you now
I wish that I could turn this all around
Its just my foolish fantasy
But that wont bring your sweet love back to me
I hear the laughter, somebody called my name
I hear the laughter and I can feel the pain
I hear the laughter echoing through my brain
I hear the laughter then Im alone again
I hear the laughter, I hear the laughter
song performed by by Leo Sayer

Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
The Sound Of Laughter
The sound of laughter is a thing of beauty for laughter spreads the very gift of joy
That people they are drawn to happy people is not that hard for to understand why
Since everybody wishes to be happy and laughter it spreads happiness around
And only the heartless could not like the sound of laughter for laughter is a very happy sound,
Than laughter there is no more happy feeling laugh and the World laughs with you seems so true
But if you feel sad and for yourself feeling sorry the saddest person in the World is you
Even your friends would rather not be with you if they see you as one who worship gloom
The happy people attract people to them and in their presence happiness does bloom,
The sound of laughter sends out laughter ripples it is a sound one always loves to hear
And laughter it gives rise to smiling faces and never fails to fill the cup of cheer
The sad one who feels comfort in self pity is the one others do not wish to know
But if you are one who laughs away your worries your friends in numbers seem to grow and grow
And who could not but love the sound of laughter to it there always is a joyful ring
It seems to send happiness out in ripples it is a joyful and infectious thing.
poem by Francis Duggan

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Her Laughter (A tribute to Pablo Neruda)
Now all is gone with the dust,
Air, light and shadow have vanished,
But her laughter remains,
It has kept on blooming,
Through all seasons dark and cold,
Even when the golden sun did not rise,
And the roses turned coal black,
In this cold tundra land of snow,
Her laughter brings to me warmth,
Like a mid summer day,
So I embrace it,
Wishing it will not fade,
My sense have become weak,
The only sound I hear is her laughter,
And the sight of her smile appears,
In the glory of all my love,
I carefully, whisper a praise,
'Perish this world,
The land, sky and sea,
As they can not compare to her laugh,
Thus they do not exist in my mind',
And when the stars all hid,
Along with the shining moon,
Covered, shrouded in the clouds,
All shall be completely dark,
Then a light shall come forth,
In the form of her laughter,
Guiding my steps to her,
Like the silent wind,
Which takes the wanderer to his destination,
With the rain of the monsoon,
Her laughter shall soak me,
Drowning me deep in her sea,
And when winter arrives,
To keep me away from her,
I shall stay patient,
Until spring reaches to reunite us,
In the field of our affection,
Where we shall meet again,
In times of joy,
And of melancholy,
When I am with her,
Or in my ventures,
Laughing may she stay,
So that my strength grows,
And I shall conquer all,
Beheading my enemies,
Through the blade made by her laughter,
If they shall try to distance me from her,
They shall end up in a abyss of vain,
Then let nothing else exist,
No air, no light, no shadow,
But her laughter will forever remain with me,
poem by Paurakh Shrestha

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A Child's Laughter
One of a kind this cheerful sound
A child's laughter wherever it's found
From the giggling of a baby in a playpen
To the laughter of a toddler again and again
A child's laughter can bring a smile
To one who hasn't done so in such a long while
I know because that one was me
Until my daughter's laugh set mine free
A child's laughter so gleeful and pure
An innocence adults miss for sure
Laughter that can bring back the past
And memories of a youth that flew by so fast
A child's laughter can bring out the best
Of most any man when he's depressed
Cause his spirit that's fall to soar
Until at last he laughs once more
poem by Harry J. Couchon Jr

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Laughter Turns To Tears
Makeup on your shoulder silence in the air
Tonight those telltale signs are everywhere
As you lay beside her talkin' in your dreams
The game is up and laughter turns to tears
Every time you phone her with a dumb excuse
She starts to think that she's outgrown her use
You'll be home by midnight workin' late it seems
The penny drops and laughter turns to tears
Do you think she's crazy
Don't you think she knows
Do you think she's taken in
Don't you think it shows
When laughter turns to tears
Laughter turns to tears
You can send her roses say she's lookin' great
You can talk of love but it may be too late
You may think she's jokin' as her laughter teems
But with tears
And laughter turns to screams
chorus
Now it won't be easy
Finding words to say
how you really feel inside
You take the game away
When laughter turns to tears
Laughter turns to tears
One day it's gonna shake you up
Take you by surprise
Someday it's gonna wake you up
Tears in your eyes
When laughter turns to tears
Laughter turns to tears x2
song performed by by Hollies

Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Giggles, Laughter and Stabbing Stares
Giggles, laughter and stabbing stares,
It would kill them to be nice,
It would hurt them to be kind,
Giggles, laughter and stabbing stares,
The notes are being passed around,
They don’t see, no one cares,
Giggles, laughter and stabbing stares,
Tearing at all I’ve built up,
But it won’t work anymore,
Giggles, laughter and stabbing stares,
What they don’t know is,
I just don’t care,
Giggles, laughter and stabbing stares,
Every one is doing it,
But I just sit and laugh,
Giggles, laughter and stabbing stares,
It’s so funny they think I care,
They are stupid to think I do,
Giggles, laughter and stabbing stares,
I laugh and laugh
Because they don’t see that no one cares,
Giggles, laughter and stabbing stares…
Giggles, laughter and stabbing stares…
Giggles, laughter and stabbing stares…
poem by Bloodlover16 Loveblood

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
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

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
We are told that laughter is Sunshine
We are told the laughter is sunshine filling a room. And where there is laughter there is also life.They say people who laugh alot will live longer.When we laugh together gratitude comes nore easily. Praise is suncere, Laughter bring joy that cannotbe bought. Such joy is with us thouugh out the days that lie ahead. written and Posted 4/19/11
poem by susan Garelick

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Without A Laugh Day
Some people about money they worry themselves gray
But life is scarce worth living without a laugh a day
For if you live without laughter how boring your life must be
You are worse off than a pauper though you may be well off financially.
Who could not love the sound of laughter to it there is such a happy ring
And the simple gift of laughter it is such a marvellous thing
And those without the gift of laughter deserve some sympathy
For sad faced and humourless people do not make good company.
The person who cannot laugh at a party out of place
And people always warm to the one with a happy and a smiling face
And with those who say that laughter is the best of medicine
How could one disagree
It has a warm glow to it that's how 'twould seem to me.
Some though financialy well off seem sad faced all of the time
And one never see them smiling as if to smile is a crime
For to get to know such people few will go out of their way
And life has to be quite boring without a laugh a day.
poem by Francis Duggan

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Laughter Of Women
The laughter of women sets fire
to the Halls of Injustice
and the false evidence burns
to a beautiful white lightness
It rattles the Chambers of Congress
and forces the windows wide open
so the fatuous speeches can fly out
The laughter of women wipes the mist
from the spectacles of the old;
it infects them with a happy flu
and they laugh as if they were young again
Prisoners held in underground cells
imagine that they see daylight
when they remember the laughter of women
It runs across water that divides,
and reconciles two unfriendly shores
like flares that signal the news to each other
What a language it is, the laughter of women,
high-flying and subversive.
Long before law and scripture
we heard the laughter, we understood freedom.
poem by Lisel Mueller

Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!