Laughter, Love and Loss

I remember when we laughed together
How we made each other smile, we smiled a lot
You could have me in stitches, with just a look,
a glance. Your eyes alive with torment.

We had our own humour. Silly, stupid, juvenile
but ours. Others would wonder why we laughed
out loud. For no apparent reason.
But we knew. Only we knew.

The day your old Aunty came to tea
One look and I was gone, had to leave
the table. Made excuses about some cake
stuck in my throat. But we knew.

Our first holiday in Cornwall, at that old
bed and breakfast place with the creaky bed.
We never slept a wink, next door complained
about the noise. It was laughter.

Then one day the laughter stopped. Both
of us not really knowing why. It never came back,
lost somewhere in time. No more looks, silly grins
secret smiles and twinkling eyes.

Soon after you were gone.Inevitable really, no
circus lasts forever.The clowns were no longer funny
When that happens, the big top comes down
And the circus leaves town.

I saw you last week.In the new restaurant in town.
New man at your side. You were eating pasta.
You gave him a look, a look I remembered.
You both started laughing…