The Color of Laughter--By Elizabeth Howard--United States

The Color of Laughter

It was winter,

and the Creator was sad.

I'll brighten

the bleak earth, he thought.

He filled a bag:

golden sunbeam,

swatch of blue sky,

handful of cornmeal,

shadows of blowing trees,

strands of a girl's black hair,

green pine needles,

red petunia.

He gave the bag

to children who opened it.

A thousand butterflies

fluttered out

and settled in their hair.

The children laughed,

and so did God.

(Based on a Papago myth)

Previously published in Tennessee Voices, 1997-98

Elizabeth Howard lives in Crossville, Tennessee. She writes poetry and fiction. Her poems have appeared in Comstock Review, Big Muddy, Appalachian Heritage, Cold Mountain Review, Poem, Still, Mobius, Now & Then, Slant, and other journals.