THEN LAUGH

 

 

                          THEN LAUGH

“Then Laugh” is an inspirational poem written by the American poet Bertha Adams Backus. She was born in 1870 and died in 1956.  In this poem she advises us not to be depressed or worried or get discouraged over our failures but keep them in our mind after transforming  it into a maximum possible wooden box.  According to her there is no gain in sharing our sorrows with others. On the contrary this approach causes more pain and suffering.

The human mind, she says, is abundantly safe and strong. It can be used as a tough wooden box by the maximum strength of our hands. Our failures, sorrows and worries should be stored in it.  They should not be shared with others because this device does not bring down our pain.  So they should be put into the box of the mind which should be shut tightly and the owner of the mind should sit on its lid and then laugh.  

Bertha’s  advice is that we should face our sorrows and heartaches bravely without disclosing them. To disclose them is no remedy. To keep them concealed and laugh over them is the best medicine.

The full poem reads as follow

“Build for yourself a strong box,

Fashion each part with care;

When it’s strong as your hand can make it,

Put all your troubles there;

Hide there all thought of your failures,

And each bitter cup that you quaff;

Lock all your heartaches within it,

Then sit on the lid and laugh.

 

Tell no one else its contents,

Never its secrets share;

When you’ve dropped in your care and worry

Keep them forever there;

Hide them from sight so completely

That the world will dream half;

Fasten the strong box secretly___

Then sit on the lid and laugh.

                                                ******

G.R.Kanwal

24 January 2024