Poetry

The Punch Line


The Punch Line

A few times in my life I have awaked
Laughing out loud at a wonderful joke.
I never recall the joke, but keep on laughing
For a minute or two, alone in the dark.
A few nights ago my friend Jacques said something
That laughed me awake, still laughing at Jacques,
Then laughing at laughing myself awake by laughing,
With no idea of what could have been so funny.
I lay there smiling and musing, wondering
If death is the punch line, and life the joke.
Or vice versa. Quack, quack.