when laughter fails

When laughter fails
I will walk the contour of the road
the short three miles
to where the ocean ebbs and flows.
Where for centuries it has
carved a crater in the sand and stone
growing deeper each day
exposing the under belly of the thinking rock
as it recedes with great surge to open waters.
 
When laughter fails
I will seek the highest northern peak
alive with an afghan of colors as fall sets in
stretching my mind and body as I reach to the sky.
I know that somewhere in time
everything and everyone will be one
that I will again be united
with those loved ones who have passed before me
into the absolute surrendering of all worldly fears.
 
When laughter fails
I will revisit the words I spoke to her
words that fell from my lips to her ears
bonding us forever
realizing how lucky I am to hear the words I said
and how lucky I was to hear them as she did.
Meeting me halfway to where we have gone together
not alone anymore
we hold hands as the sun falls and melts into the night
beckoning tomorrow.
 
When laughter fails
I will look into the lessons to be learned
with a more discerning eye.
I’ll get back on life’s horse again
and ride to my destiny
smiling through my sorrows
surrendering to the awe of life’s inevitability
knowing full well
there’s a quiet belly laugh on the other side of it.