LAUGHING GAS

There will almost always be darkness
as you'll be forced to shut your eyes tight
like how it is when soap gets in them
only without the pain
but is it pleasure or pathos
you cannot tell
not with the numbness
spreading like despair
kneadingyour consciousness into pliancy
or is it hardness

and soon they come
first in ripples the giggles
then in waves the laughter
howling from out of you
uncontrollable

it's best to be in bed
you might fall if you're not
and best not to be alone
you might never rise up
from the stupor you fall into
when the hysterics die down
because the cloud that you're in
does seem real
but it's not
only what it is
a cloud
that is all
yes you know
the best part of being sober
is remembering how it was when you were drunk
if only you could.

(Written last December 3, 2006)