Funny

FUNNY, adj. Having the quality of exciting merriment, as a Bulletin article by Fr. Bartlett when he is at his sickest.

He lay on his deathbed and wrote like mad,

For his will was good though his cough was bad.

And his humor ran without ever a hitch,

Urged by the rowels of Editor Fitch,

Who took the sheets as they fell from his hand,

Perused and endeavored to understand.

The work was complete. "'Tis a merry jest,"

The writer remarked; "I think it my best.

How strange that a man at the point of death

Should have so much with so little breath!"

Then thoughtfully answered him Editor Fitch,

As he scratched his head, though it didn't itch:

"The point of death I can certainly see,

But that of the joke is concealed from me."

2010 Update: Reassuringly imperfect, like all the contents of an unmirrored room.

A full bag of groceries can sure seem amusing,

And words from a poet, no less when confusing;

An umpire's call (except when you're losing);

Most anything striking, bawling or bruising

Any three strangers who enter a bar;

Each ideology, taken too far;

The pious in worship, in gossip or char;

A sinner, sincerely repenting his mar;

The flight of a sparrow, a hen or an emu;

Wise words of advice from some sot that you knew;

Two lumps in a cup or a toad in the brew;

Or you going through that thing that you do;

Cars when they're flowing or stopped when it's snowing,

Depending, of course, on where you were going;

Kids when they're quiet, kids when they're growing;

And parents when pleased, neglectful or crowing.

This world is a tragic one, let me be clear,

Of mirthless malevolence, want, harm and fear.

Pray as you should and help some, old dear,

But funny our world spins at point of a spear.

-Lyman Moody