Powerful Poems About Laughter and Mental Health: The Best Medicine

Take bread away from me, if you wish,

take air away, but

do not take from me your laughter.

Do not take away the rose,

the lance flower that you pluck,

the water that suddenly

bursts forth in joy,

the sudden wave

of silver born in you.

My struggle is harsh and I come back

with eyes tired

at times from having seen

the unchanging earth,

but when your laughter enters

it rises to the sky seeking me

and it opens for me all

the doors of life.

My love, in the darkest

hour your laughter

opens, and if suddenly

you see my blood staining

the stones of the street,

laugh, because your laughter

will be for my hands

like a fresh sword.

Next to the sea in the autumn,

your laughter must raise

its foamy cascade,

and in the spring, love,

I want your laughter like

the flower I was waiting for,

the blue flower, the rose

of my echoing country.

Laugh at the night,

at the day, at the moon,

laugh at the twisted

streets of the island,

laugh at this clumsy

boy who loves you,

but when I open

my eyes and close them,

when my steps go,

when my steps return,

deny me bread, air,

light, spring,

but never your laughter

for I would die.

Why Don’t You Laugh

Poet: Unknown

Why don’t you laugh, dear boys, when troubles come,

Instead of sitting ’round so sour and glum?

You cannot have all play,

And sunshine every day;

When troubles come, I say, why don’t you laugh?

Why don’t you laugh, dear girls? ‘Twill ever help to soothe

The aches and pains. No road in life is smooth;

There’s many an unseen bump,

And many a hidden stump

O’er which you’ll have to jump. Why don’t you laugh?

Why don’t you laugh? Don’t let your spirits wait;

Don’t sit and cry because the milk you’ve split;

If you would mend it now,

Pray let me tell you how:

Just milk another cow! Why don’t you laugh?

Why don’t you laugh, and make us all laugh, too,

And keep us mortals all from getting blue?

A laugh will always win;

If you can’t laugh, just grin –

Come on, let’s all join in! Why don’t you laugh?

‘Tis by the heart the secret’s told,

‘Tis by the smile we’re young or old,

‘Tis as the life its joy shall hold,

It is the laugh reveals the soul.

It was herself she despised.

Criticized. Dehumanized. A

nd no one seemed to realize

Her happiness was a disguise

Tricking foolish eyes.

But a few –too few

Were far to wise

To be deceived by the lies; T

I know myself I’m aware,

I’m mindful I CARE

It’s a gift In a way, experienced every day

And as Lady Gaga said “Baby, I was born this way!”

But there’s nothing goes to suit me, when my system’s full of bile;

Even horses quit their pullin’ when the driver doesn’t smile,

But they’ll buckle to the traces when they hear a glad giddap,

Just as though they like to labor for a cheerful kind o’ chap.

Laughter keeps me strong an’ healthy. You can bet I’m all run down,

Fit for doctor folks an’ nurses when I cannot shake my frown.

Found in farmin’ laughter’s useful, good for sheep an’ cows an’ goats;

When I’ve laughed my way through summer, reap the biggest crop of oats.

Laughter’s good for any business, leastwise so it seems to me

Never knew a smilin’ feller but was busy as could be.

Sometimes sit an’ think about it, ponderin’ on the ways of life,

Wonderin’ why mortals gladly face the toil an care an’ strife,

Then I come to this conclusion—take it now for what it’s worth

It’s the joy of laughter keeps us plodding on this stretch of earth.

Men the fun o’ life are seeking—that’s the reason for the calf

Spillin’ mash upon his keeper—men are hungry for a laugh.

By: Lori Ann Peterson

An Unspoken Bond

Laughter can be the best remedy for a difficult day.

It’s the sort of chipper sound that brings more joy than we can say.

We giggle and guffaw,

we chuckle and shout – it comes from deep within us

when life is just too hard to pour out.

When something’s funny, how can you not share?

From hilarious puns to uncontrolled snare!

Let laughs fill the room;

Let humor never subside – with grins so wide your cheeks will soon divide.

Silliness and joy always have a place – an unspoken bond that links us in this space!

A laugh is just like sunshine,

It freshens all the day.

It tips the peak of life with light

And drives the clouds away.

The soul grows glad that hears it

And feels its courage strong;

A laugh is just like sunshine

For cheering folks along.

A laugh is just like music,

It lingers in the heart,

And where its melody is heard,

The ills of life depart;

And happy thoughts come crowding

Its joyful notes to greet;

A laugh is just like music

For making living sweet!

Are you worsted in a fight?

Laugh it off.

Are you cheated of your right?

Laugh it off.

Don’t make tragedy of trifles,

Don’t shoot butterflies with rifles —

Laugh it off.

Does your work get into kinks?

Laugh it off.

Are you near all sorts of brinks?

Laugh it off.

If enjoyment you are after.

There’s no recipe like laughter —

Laugh it off.

Four Things

“But she was always laughing

So happy and full of life”

They don’t know the litres of life laughter draws from your well – being with each blinding smile.

They saw fireworks where forest fires burned,

And excitement whenever I

shuffled skeletons from one closet to the next.

They saw me relaxed at home when all I ever did was

shift and shift and shift until I found the perfect spot in a coffin.

They will always remember the smiles,

not knowing that even in death,

Sing a song of victory,

A heart brimful of cry

Can be soon changed to laughter,

A song will drown a sigh.

Sing of truth that fails not,

Of God who never sleeps;

Sing with confidence in Him

Who His people keeps.

Sunlight chases shadow.

Healthful thoughts chase gloom;

Then good cheer and courage

In the heart find room.

Sing a song of victory,

Life’s strings all in tune;

Singing Faith will soon transform

Night to day’s full noon.

Build for yourself a strong box,

Fashion each part with care;

Fit it with hasp and padlock,

Put all your troubles there.

Hide therein all your failures,

And each hitter cup you quaff,

Lock all your heartaches within it.

Then sit on the lid and laugh.

Tell no one of its contents;

Never its secrets share;

Drop in your cares and worries,

I love a laugh, a wild, gay laugh:

O, who would always sorrow,

And wear a sad and woful face.

And fear the morrow?

I love a laugh – this world would be,

At best, a dreary dwelling,

If heart could never speak to heart,

It’s pleasure telling.

I love a laugh – it cheers the heart