Written for the Flin Flon MB writers Guild

NEVER BE RISIBLE
‘I will never be risible’ said the school teacher so mean,
‘Not one glimmer of laughter in my class will ever be seen,
Learning is a serious matter that requires great discipline.
No time for frivolity or fun, in fact in class laughter is a sin.”

With a stern face, even a scowl, the teacher taught each day,
Risibility never raised it’s happy, joyous head in any way,
A dull, deep sadness filled that class like a heavy cloud,
For not once while he taught was any laughter allowed.

They were sent to the corner if someone laughed at all,
Even the visiting guest felt sad when they came to call,
It was like being in the arctic with ice and snow all around,
For one thing was always missing, the happy laughing sound.

Students dreaded his classes they did not want to learn,
He had their respect, but their love he would never earn,
Not while when things were funny they could not laugh at all,
Soon the teacher noticed that their good marks began to fall.

One day the class made up their minds to show their risible side
Something funny was said, and their laughter they could not hide,
As the teacher enter with his face scowling with a glare most foul,
This made the students with louder laughter together to howl.

It was too much for this poor teacher, he could one of two things,
Walk out and not teach or join in the fun that laughter brings,
First he smiled, then a giggle came from each very stern, stiff lip,
The ice was broken as the laughter his stubborn old heart did grip.

(Millicent) Ann Margetson December 29, 2003