There's nothing more incredible than the laughter of a child
The innocence of dalliance with laughing gooey smiles
Chocolate covered laughter gives such inner peace
Even if the Hershey's was someone else's treat
The cornered grins all brown and sweet the wider eyes that smile
The broken giggles of these two...a momma and her child
Remembered days when curls came down with peanut buttered whirls
Then jelly laughter sprung a leak and kisses caught the curls
The taste and joys of this love a child with innocence
A mothers brightened afternoon when hearts and laughter spent
These hurting ribs from giggles...the constant white of teeth
The tumbles on the cold oak floor with kisses all so sweet
Memories of a mothers love...the laughter rings in techno
I keep these treasures in my heart and every day they echo
Mariah's curls...her wicked smile the one that showed no mercy
The shadows of a thought just caught with her Momma's Hershey's.

© 2000 Susan K. Rowse

Mariah is 19 years old now and still has a sweet tooth. This poem is a wonderful tribute to the fun times we had then and the ones to come.