MY LAUGHTER AND YOU

Young friends gleefully sang of me

Sitting on an old gum tree

Singing that I was merry

Urging me to laugh

"Laugh, Kookaburra laugh!"

 

My 'koo-hoo' is in reality not a laughter

It is a mating and territorial call

People may deem it to be what they choose of it

Who cares for the whole truth when it matters not directly

They are perceiving what suit their mindset

Often half-truth is getting what you set out for

Never mind all the details

 

I'm not indignant for being misunderstood

I'm what I am -- no apology extended

They can be who they are

Holding on to their truth

And I my reality

 

                                *** THE END***

Note:

"My Laughter and You" was inspired by my younger son, Elisha, who repeatedly and lustily sang a song about the renowned kookaburra, inspired no doubt by the television programme: Barney and Friends. I was enthused and did some reading up on this bird in Marine Parade Library. The end-product is this poem in 'defence' of the kookaburra's reality and something for reflection (as we hear it, the "I" here, speaks forth).

 

It was first published by The Alumnus (October 1998).