Pieces of Laughter

Pieces of Laughter

(“So there was much rejoicing in that city.” Acts 8:8)

Pieces of laughter, shards of joy landed like balloon pops
at the feet of wrinkled adults and unfolding babies.
Never was power more raw and sweet like
sugar cane sucked on by toddlers on the rain forest’s edge.

No one had won an election,
no two were married nor three caught in a criminal conspiracy.

But there was a judge who had adjudicated defiantly
in the face of the tangled mess that tied everyone in knots
when they should have strolled fearlessly downtown,
to the mall late morning smelling the grass along the
split-chip road where the dust and dew design a morning
greeting, a hello for the few who have not heard a hello
before the sun’s right angle.

Everything had been askew since before anyone remembered,
a town like those tourist attractions in the foothills that make
it seem bowling balls are rolling up hill.

But the appearances, the pretences to power were faced down,
by a Name elevated above every reach for fame. So few handle
it delicately; spew it out in anger, or simple surprise, they seldom
think the Name means anything other than “Wut!?”

No matter, the lover of Mankind will prove His love for the
language trappers. As quickly as breakfast had been served and eaten,
up and down the streets of town life was chosen, death’s deceit
brought out into the open. Demon upon demon, rancid fancying
itself lord of the day were swept sky away, wept why away

Until the laughter returned and the Name was the Name

Everyone spoke of again and again

Just as often as before

But with the heart fully restored to utter with carnival clarity
the joy of Jesus full to flooded and more.