Special Laughter

THE WHOLE COURSE

SPECIAL LAUGHTER

A special table

Should be laid,

A special

Long-haired music played,

For the specially sad

Who can afford

To specialize in

Being bored.

It will be Doomsday -

By the clocks

2:00 A.M.

(Time's paradox

Perverting time)

When they arrive

(Old at the age

Of twenty-five).

When they arrive,

As though they'd come

Through a thousand doors

Of delicate doom,

Let some especially

Special shade

Of mortuary blue

Pervade.

Then, Curtain! Curtain!

And, Lights out!

Suspended in

Ambiguous doubt

Anticipation

Of disaster

Has its own sort

Of special laughter.

Structure

34 lines · 4 stanzas