Stone Soup

Where young artists paint the world with words

The international magazine of stories, poems, and art by young writers and artists. Published continuously since 1973.

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What Is Laughter?

Water
Laughter is like a cool glass of water.
Refreshing, enjoyable.
A cool trickle going down your throat.
When you laugh, you forget the pile of homework,
waiting at school for you.
You forget about the fact that your mom is in the hospital,
and you’re not sure if she’s ever going to come out again.
You forget about grades and projects and friends.
Your mind goes blank like a blackboard…
and you laugh.
You laugh to forget, you laugh to enjoy, you laugh to feel free.
And as the sweating glass of water empties,
you are forced back into the real world…
The world where you belong.

What Is Laughter? Zoë Cassinelli
Zoë Cassinelli, 12
San Rafael, California