Track of our Lives

By this guy who splices scenes from old movies and pastes them together into music videos. Check him out at http://www.youtube.com/user/matthiasheuermann.

Laughter

In the beginning was laughter,
the Lord’s, and in the end…

We could claim we began with
laughter, but that would be a lie.

Our kind can only start with sorrow.
Laughter is as varied as the weather

and as predictable: patter of fingers
on a baby’s belly, beam of TV

on the faces of late night lovers,
warming drinks held by the lonely

and willing. Laughter can be carefree
or nervous, or dangerous at times.

Laughter is contagious and
laughter is the best medicine.

Laughter is the sound we make to
drown out the heart’s monotones.

Let us all laugh, then, all the way
to the bank and beyond, to that place

without laughter. The world has never
laughed with me enough, or maybe it has --

silently, all along. Laughter, to you I offer
this humble tummy. Laughter, have mercy.

Stranger

Today a stranger
in my bed.

These arms are easy to open.
This heart does not promise
violence. Who are you?

Today you are my master
or I am yours. Let us take turns
shaking this head.

Today the wings of a maya
stop beating over rooftops
and it is let down. Today it starts

wandering without a sound
because it has no ears. This
has nothing to do with us

or everything. If you are
wrinkling away, then take
me with you. The woman

loved one of us last night.
Let us hear her some more.
Today oh stranger, yes.