Three short lines make a small argument about laughter. The speaker admits that it can be cruel, the kind of laugh that stings someone or leaves them feeling small. But then comes a quiet correction: laughter is nice twice as often. The speaker is keeping score, almost like an accountant, and the tally comes out in favor of kindness.
The tone is calm and a little wry. There's no anger here, and no heavy lesson. The speaker seems to have thought about the question and reached a fair, slightly hopeful conclusion. The odd title, "Hysteria," adds a twist, since the word usually suggests wild, out-of-control laughter or panic. Set beside such a measured poem, it makes the reader wonder whether laughter is ever fully under control, and whether that wildness is part of why it can hurt or heal. The mood is light, thoughtful, and gently comforting. It admits that cruelty exists without letting it win.