Murray's Laughter

a poem for my father-in-law--a victim of Alzheimer's--simplified ghazal form

MURRAY'S LAUGHTER


He shuns rooms filled with laughter.
A soul starved for present laughter.

Simple silence suits him well.
He is not nourished by laughter.

The tangled plaques in his brain
tarnish the luster of laughter.


Smiles signal that all is well
streaking memories of laughter.

Pat would forfeit all splendor
just to hear again his laughter.



Author's Note: aa, ba, ca, da, ea rhyme scheme. 8 syllables first line of couplet, 7 syllables second line.