Punchline

Her mother hated him
the way he rolled his R's
But a Jew
marrying a German
offered fuel
for her laughter.

The world was her inside joke
her laugh would sparkle and dance
through his head.

Everything was funny to her
even the lump
scared him more.

He followed her instructions
to the letter.

Everyone assumed the tears
were of sorrow
and loneliness
that his body was trembling
with silent sobs.

It was such
a lovely urn.