Laughing

You laughed, when you tripped

And fell. Then I did too;

Fostered by concern.

Some crudely drawn anatomy

On the cast; a silent apology.

The comedy of affection.

–

You laugh to broach

The intimacy. A fragile body

Submits to a sympathetic

hand. That mends with

Irreverence and Sudocrem;

Sheepishly applied

–

I laughed, as I brought up

The tray of food that day.

You, wrapped up in blankets.

Me, in a pinefore.

“Your breakfast is served!”

A giggle infected by a groan.

–

I laugh

Less, when the pain lingers.

“Don’t be so hysterical,”

You grin. To regulate my

Anxiety. No better treatment

Than levity in heavy conversation.

–

You laugh, when I say

“What will I do?”

“Rather me than you.”

Drifting down the hall you say,

“No worse than a fall!”.

Outshining the halogen bulbs.

–

You laugh but it didn’t take,

At first. The ward is silent

This time of night. And against

The fading evening light

We beam at each other.

And laugh.