24/365, 5/30 Imparting Joy

It is easy to write of sadness,
to convey grief,
share the hollow ache of disappointment,
to draw tears from strangers
in the telling.

There is a difference
between invoking laughter
and imparting joy.
Laughter is born of irony realized
and discomfort masked,
of embarrassment revealed
and shared humiliation exposed.

Laughter is not joy.
Mirth is a heart string
not easily plucked,
a resonant tone
best left to the experts to attempt.

We can try
but words that enthrall and delight
are best spoken by children.
They can not be crafted or practiced.
They can be said only once.