Horseplay

Standstill. The silence of thought deafens the ear to the mockery of time passing by. Tempests in the mind overflow in an audible sigh. Then a difficult smile, that humors the world that humors me. Rambunctious thoughts squeal around happily, carelessly, from day until sunset until dreams. Contain them. Coddle them. Discipline them. Indulge them. Naughty jigsaw pieces that won't sit still. Children dancing and playing dress-up. Hide and seek. Tag.

I'm it again.

Sweat pours profusely in the useless, endless chase. Then, fatigue pulls the reins and I realize I've grown older while catching nothing in the mischievous games. Standstill. Let the silence lead to the evasive little giggles and mockeries. Wait a while and see. They will grow and get tired too. They will tell me soon why they laugh so hard, when we face each other around the warmth of a dancing campfire. When the world stops humoring me, I will join them in laughter.

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these thoughts are what people would normally call a mess.