Melting In Laughter

I have a gift all wrapped up in words
~packaged in perception
~presented with precision
I share my gift with those rarely heard
I give a gift often without words

I learned my gift can change challenged lives
~proficient in practice
~perfect in passion
I teach my gift to people who strive
I know the gift will change many lives

I make my gift to relieve tension
~prepared in patience
~practical and persistent
I take my gift to give a lesson
I work my gift to ease my tension

I lift my gift to help it open
~positive as possible
~painting the poignant
I shift my gift pulling love in when
I touch my gift and closed minds open

I have a gift and it is laughter
~popping like popcorn
~pumping with pleasure
I wish my gift to be a wonder
I give unconditional laughter!

2022

Author's Note

When I start to write the first stanza of a poem and decide the rest has to match it I worry I can't pull it off. Especially when I'm folding such a big idea into this little present. It was interesting how much this poem changed when I did the final write and added and subtracted a few words to perfect my syllable counts.

I just started working with a new client. The day after my friend died as a matter of fact. I needed the distraction. The new client has cerebral palsy and profound intellectual disabilities. A few years ago I would have been terrified of her. How do I change my communication? How do I find progress. How do I know the unknown that can't be shared? With my recent experience I have learned that that starts by finding someone's happy. Then the work can happen. In a few short weeks I have changed this girl's life. Engineering a way for her to do tasks completely on her own for the first time. And finding a happy that I need just as much. More than anyone I've worked with her laugh is infectious. We end up in this belly laugh so good for our hearts and minds. And we can't even talk to each other but the language is there. And it melts our tension. I have a contract with the state and try to teach this in my presentation. It is a wonder filling thing when it happens. That is what this poem....and life is about!

Reviews

[Writergurl]

I lift my gift to help it open
~positive as possible
~painting the poignant
I shift my gift pulling love in when
I touch my gift and closed minds open

LOVED this part so much, I love the word play in your poetry,
this is well crafted and brilliant

[William Michael Reeves]

Thank you. Put a lot of thought into it and nice to hear it hits people in the right spot.

[Betty Hermelee]

The gift of laughter is very notable, probably one of the finest. It’s a very positive notion…” pulling love in”…..and opening minds to see the world in a different color….the gift of releasing tension is something we all need in a chaotic world.
Best, B.

[William Michael Reeves]

More and more chaotic by the day. I wonder if Putin laughs. Thanks Betty

[Betty Hermelee]

Well that’s a good question! He may laugh himself in exile someday I hope!
Best, B

[JE Falcon]

And such a nice way to look at it, life, that is.
"I have a gift and it is laughter
~popping like popcorn
~pumping with pleasure
I wish my gift to be a wonder
I give unconditional laughter!" Such a warm-hearted poem, full of fun and living.

[William Michael Reeves]

I found laughter to be a key. Opens most every lock(hmmmm. Sounds like another poem there.) thanks.

[Coyote Poetry]

A wonderful poem shared William.
"I have a gift and it is laughter
~popping like popcorn
~pumping with pleasure
I wish my gift to be a wonder
I give unconditional laughter!"
I liked the above lines. I try to get people to laugh. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[William Michael Reeves]

Thanks. I missed your name change when I listed you in 'Fluent in Color'. Sorry.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome William.

[Miss Sharon]

Beautiful! After reading your "authors' note" I appreciate the poem even more. Thank you for sharing your "gift." ~Sharon

[William Michael Reeves]

You're welcome. I think of myself as moral officer. I worked on construction 20 years and did my best with that tough crowd. Easy now. Just a bunch of poets and willing participants.

[Miss Sharon]

My Father worked in the construction business all of his life and I know what a difficult profession that is. It is an "art form" just as poetry. My Dad also wrote poetry to my Mom and it is beautifully romantic! ~Sharon

[John the Baptist]

I guess it is impossible to laugh and be depressed simultaneously. I wonder if this method would help depressed people, a group I used to work with.

[William Michael Reeves]

Laughter therapy on people who don't want to laugh. That would make for awkward observations.

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

Laughter is the best medicine to share!
Loved the whole poem, the last stanza is my favorite!

I have a gift and it is laughter
popping like popcorn

[William Michael Reeves]

I couldn't get that line out of my mind last night as I worked with her. So many ways to make her laugh like kernels spread thin in a pan of care shaking it up old school like the popcorn we made when I was a kid. Thank you Nation of Image.

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

It was a great poem!

[Cherrie Palmer]

All people have the need to be seen. All to often individuals with a disability are treated like a task instead of a person with needs.
There is no better communication than our emotions and no better medicine than laughter.

[William Michael Reeves]

You write truth there. People with disabilities want tasks. Not be a task. I was hoping this would touch you as you have been giving care as long as I have I imagine. I started working in nursing homes in 1979. So many years of mirth as medicine!

[lightsong]

You are a gem Bill! and this whole prefect crafted poem is a gem that reflects your gold beautiful nature. I am amazed how carefully You chose and wrote your words, You don't throw them aimlessly, each is written in purpose. the first verse was the door, "I share my gift with those rarely heard
I give a gift often without words" the wonderful about these lines that they can be about the disable clients You work with and also about all humans. some humans close their hearts and don't want to share anything, with a sincere loving smile real magic can begins to work, more beautiful when this simple attitude is a "give and take" one, You share a smile, You give happiness and also You feel happiness! the last verse is the hit! ending it with your great sense of humor! happy to see You working with a new lovely client, a new challenge to bring more passion to your life and work, this is what Sharon wants You to do. all the best and bright blessings ✨

[William Michael Reeves]

Thanks Gounwah. Some craft went into this for sure. I spent the same time on each stanza as I would on most of my recent poems. And I'm glad to see you feel I speak to people without disabilities. I was writing of their laughter too. Teaching in classes needs humor to keep attention on you. When I write I almost always include the rest. Is what I write applicable to all? Then I know it's right. I wish you could feel how good it makes me feel when someone understands the deeper meaning of my intricately folded models. My whole being relaxes when I read your understanding. It is not lost on me that Sharon's energy is working in me. Gaia!!