I spent many labourious hours

    finding the net velocity of sound.

Then I did it, and achieved means

    of which I could follow it.

I rejoiced for only a brief moment.



My hasty footsteps carried me to that

    Apartment #35 on 114th Street.

Through the scratched lenses of my bifocals,

    I saw her in the dim light of her room.

The object of love unrequited.



I stood in the shadow and waited -

    hours, days, years, I did not know.

Until, finally, she did it -

    laughter rising like bubbles from her mouth.

I took off, following it.



On and on I went,

    where I was, I didn't care;

For it was her laughter within my ears;

    and I laughed too, a sound unbeknownst to me.

Thus, we laughed together.



I broke through the atmosphere,

    and lost my glasses meanwhile.

There I saw something red,

    Mars? The sun? Or even Andromeda?

No matter, the only thing I cared for

    was her laughing with me in my ears.

So I slept, and saw her laughing.