My Carolina Days

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Joy was my best friend, ever
A passionate Southern accent
Kind, though
Clear blue eyes and a reliable car
“Clutch,”
It’s a compliment
The only one who came through
Who showed up
I hope her boyfriend made things right
There was nothing he was doing
More important than Joy

Joy told me the best joke
An immature, juvenile joke
The kind you still giggle about at 50
Maybe less a joke than advice
“Shave your butt and walk backwards”
It’s a compliment
That you made someone laugh
Especially at them-self
There’s not enough of us doing that
These days
I want to laugh with Joy again

Next June

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I decree
I'll laugh
Wide-eyed and incredulous
That giggles shall cascade down my back
Then curl 'round my elbows

I imagine
I'm gleeful
Careless, as my high school girl self
That the boy I kissed goodbye
Then I'll see again

Penance

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Would it help me to know
There’s their laughter there
Filling in spaces
Hanging in the air

Would it calm me to learn
Tears of joy spill from everywhere 
Hearts explode from the happy
As it is only fair

dawn’s fact

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Reaching under toward
The unlit light
For an anchor
For something
Always and alone
I could cry -I have and I do
This I promise
Stay there too long
With tears ankle deep
And you’ll miss the maddening laughter
That carries you safely through
To dawn’s fact