**11-15-09***- - I Miss Mirth Poem by Tom J. Mariani

I've recently taken a long hard look
To see what's missing in this world
Things seem to be getting worse
What is making modern life so cold

Thinking back - - - what did we used to have
That made us eager to get out of bed
What did we have then
That was bouncing around in our head

I think it was the potential for mirth
I awoke expecting some joke to come
I knew a friend or my uncle would dropp by
Or I'd hear a story from an old bum

Sometimes a hobo's stories were best
He's tell us of his travels by rail
And for a nickel
Of lands he'd set sail

But each story always had a good laugh
I was expecting meriment every day
Not just on Christmas Eve
When did I lose this way

It was others making up stories
Just to get my money
Didn't create mirth
Those stories weren't funny

Whether told by my church
Or handed out as financial advice
There is no smile on my face
As I look at the resulta of the roll of modern dice