The First Laughter

I will never forget the first laughter -

After the day I cried
And kept crying;
Into hours that were weeks
And weeks that were hours,
Wading through cloudlike reality -
For a time, I can only remember the clouds...

Until one evening, a suddenness,

A stubbornness -

My cat leapt up onto the lap 

Of a lady saying she didn't like cats.

Four legs cutting feline, quick, 

Wilful through all human feelings 

And shoulds

Landed through the fog

Of what I could not feel -

Here was something I loved.

And I laughed. 

LJ Ireton 2023