Laughing Stock Poem by Old Teenage Poems

Why do we hold back
on smiling to strangers
on the subway / bus
- as if we needed to
cut down
on joy

Why do we save
opening ourselves up
only to special occasions
- as if it were a luxury
we didn't deserve
every day

Why do we live life
as if happiness was a scarcity
- and anger and lonliness
the only things
we could bottle
up

Why do we laugh
so rarely
- when it's one of few
natural reserves
that can never
run out