Laugh Clown… Laugh

In honor of Robin Williams - 18 Augus 2014

Laugh clown… laugh

Delivered the joke, smiled through torment…

On humor’s wings your malady was bent.

You shared with all your gift of the jape,

For our maudlin hearts a moment’s escape.

A manic laugh ‘pon your face fights,

We raised you up to astonishing heights.

Laughing… laughing… laughing… laugh

From the depth of melancholy in your eyes,

Take flight now before us… ever higher you’ll rise.

Made us laugh ’til we did cry apiece…

Precarious… you teetered ‘pon the precipice.

Played out your suffering ‘pon the stage,

Lights… camera… the pedestal… your cage.

Cry out loud… make jest of your pain

For you ever inspired, gave hope from your fragility, 

Shined so brightly for all your frolicking jocularity, 

Behind the door… in the dark… burned out alone.

Did we ever see if a smile from your eyes shone.

Always easing our lonely malady,

You made the joke from your own tragedy.

The lonely clown… living to entertain

Reveling in your hilarity taken for granted,

Your warmth… your joy… we were enchanted.

Left none to ease your heart so dolorous,

To deliver joy beyond depression’s curse.

To strive with unending adverse poignancy, 

Gave joy… spread smiles… and tears of hilarity.

Dying… dying…dying to make us laugh

Laughing… laughing… laughing countenance

Hiding behind laughter, your sustenance.

Your soul laid bare… laid bare for the joke,

Poured out… poured out… ’til your heart broke.

Loving the clown to death, we cried,

Cruelest cut the day the laughter died.

Laugh clown… laugh

Laughing… laughing… laughing… laugh

Cry out loud… make jest of your pain

The lonely clown… living to entertain

Dying… dying…dying to make us laugh

by D. Denise Dianaty

Author's Note

I wanted this to be an expression of the sense of gratitude and guilt that his passing left…

Reviews

[Confuser]

Putting this in my library. It's quite beautiful. I am tearful now thinking of him again, so sad. But you're description brought his face to me. I loved him so much like many and we never know, do we, what's behind that smile. Thank you for this.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. I'm honored you were touched by my homage to him. The saddest thing of all about him is that we DID know. He told us all the time. We laughed anyway.

[Confuser]

He reminded me of someone special in my life as a child. Thank you.

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks. :D

[Confuser]

Y/w...........................................................

[Lyn Anderson]

The best part about this poem is that it aptly illustrates the dichotomy between the sadness and the laughter, great job.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you so much. When we embrace comedians like Robbin Williams, Jim Belushi, and Chris Farley, just to name a few, I just wish we were all more aware of the laughter that never touches their eyes. I wish we were capable of letting them know we see beyond the clown.

[Lyn Anderson]

Add a few others who are still with us to that list, Jim Carey among them. Yes, it is true, they have financial success and fame, but at what price?

[MomzillaNC]

There are so many lifting us out of our misery for a moment by making entertainments from their own torment -- it's overwhelming to think of…

[Jamie R. Robillard Sr.]

Thank you, excellent read, and a wonderful tribute.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. I just needed to express the gratitude and guilt his death engendered.

[Fran Marie]

so true the laughter died when we lost our lonely clown...he was one of a kind...grand tribute for Robin...whom we shall all miss dearly..

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. I was trying to capture the overwhelming sense of gratitude and guilt his passing left me with.

[The Dreamer]

A wonderful tribute to an amazing man.... a true testament to the fact that people hide a lot behind their laughs and jokes.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you.