What’s infectious, contagious and does us all good?
If it could be bottled I’m sure doctors would
And save millions of pounds on potions and pills
To prescribe as a wonder to remedy ills.

L A U G H T E R

Consider the word, just the way it is spelt
Well that should give someone a laugh
For why is it spelt in such a strange way
Not like half or a scarf or a graph.

Why isn’t my daughter a dafter?
I don’t think she’d relish that thought
Our language is filled with such pitfalls
How can correct spelling be taught?

With an “s” as the front it is slaughter
One letter but isn’t it strange
From a happy event to disaster
With a stroke of the pen how things change?

Though humour can vary, a smile says it all
A tweek of the muscles or two
Can show our approval without any words
But the message will clearly show through.

Some people titter and some people snort
And others guffaw with a will
And clutch at their sides and go red in the face
But far better than taking a pill.

So let’s light up the world with our laughter
Forget politicians and war
A conniption to sail round the airways
With laughter not guns at the fore.

© Mary Stewart