Twas at Siena on a summer day,
When I sat in an ancient church alone,-
My Stephen had already gone away
To find the famous Piazza Cicerone.

And there I sat admiring the art
Of a mosaic of our Blessed Lord,
The skillful set of stones and every shard,
High cheek bones prominently underscored..

Around the mouth of Jesus and the jaw
A smile did seem to play, - intriguingly,
But now I held my breath at what I saw,
The mouth did seem to curl - He laughed at me!



And when I left the church to find my Steve,
And told him that the Lord had laughed at me,
He said I doubt it not yea! I believe,
The Lord did laugh at what he had to see!

"You saw aright dear, saw aright and true,
The Lord gave you a sign, that's clear enough,-
He saw a screwball sitting in the pew,
And seeing it, what could He do but laugh?"



But this was long ago, - this year again,
Another proof I got at Pentecost,
A sign so irrefutable and plain
(I got this sign when I did need it most)

An artist on TV was interviewed
And put his splendid paintings on display,
Some oils shone bright,some others more subdued,
His works of art in stunning an array.



He showed the Lord with laughters soothing gleam,
So beautiful! - with bright white flashing teeth,
And all saints and angels laughed with Him,-
Each of the artist's works a masterpiece!

So late in Time ,- stunning discovery,-
The Lord does show a fondness for good cheer,
He does subsumes in Him hilarity,
And even holds a screwball very dear.

Elizabeth Dandy