The Comedian got the Joke

I was very fascinated by the character of the Comedian in the Watchmen comic/film, the irony of only him understanding what was the real face of the worlds masters & the misery suffered by those below

 

 

There are times and places which the soul can’t imagine,

Needing to step into the swarm of lies and bays of deceit.

We can’t even dream of moving these logs; let alone our legs,

A chuckle so crippling sounds behind this watery street.

 

They can’t seem to get the tricks of the mysterious maiden,

The wicked hand she’s playing; while calling them the cheat.

 

To claw at one’s feet just to get them moving,

To cry out loud just to hear a more lucid mocking,

He tells them the story and laughs to himself than to the sitting folk,

They’re all wondering; maybe the comedian got the joke.

 -

Time has brought the sands to fill the crevices of his wrinkles,

To those on horses they’re like cracks to be lined with bricks and cement.

We can’t see in this blinding wind anymore, our ears and mouth bound,

A snicker so numbing; far in the distance, cause the strongest spirits to dent.

 

No blame nor deception to help understand what was it that got them there,

The children are all that are left to see what’s left to silently lament.

 

To tear open the eyes into the storm and dusty breeze,

To move and just find someone, these bloody ties to release.

He talks of their fall and cry, as they saw the light, then the smoke,

He’s the only one left smiling; maybe the comedian got the joke.

 -

The lights from the poles shimmer, burning into their weakened eyes,

A reminder that darkness was not theirs, to summon for a quite night’s sleep.

The cars honk at passing ragged smells of the stranger crossing,

Taking cover, he realizes it’s a different war; he is already in deep.

 

The crumbs take time to fall off the table off the mighty dinning,

The maiden lies waiting on the sheets that she knows, won’t come cheap.

 

To break away from the prison of bridges and freeways,

To run long enough and get far enough to start new days.

He gets out the punch line, like the end of a poetic rhyme that broke,

He drops the mic, sinks his head in laughter so hard he almost chokes,

 

The crowd can’t see the wet eyes that sunk in his hands: they say to themselves

....Maybe only the comedian got the joke.

 

 Written By Roshan Nair
 Copyright © 2015 Roshan Nair

 

 

Author's Note

For that matter, I even find the real comedians, in our world, as beacons of irony ..as they point them out us, while we blindly keep living our lives, consuming all that we are fed and our world keeps turning... Maybe only they got the joke that life's become.

Reviews

[~]

You have done a great job here. I really like the comics for the new way it sees truth and life. There are many reasons to how and why we become so numb. Comfort, denial... and irony within its power can expose the ugliness and the broken, yet people choose what lies to believe.

[Roshan Nair]

Thanks a lot :) glad you liked it and im even more glad to find a fellow watchmen fan :) yes, its a hauntingly realistic work, how they represent men and their motives. cheers!

[Abilash Uttama]

i couldn't infer much from this poem and that of-course is my weakness , but i liked the flow and rhyme of it and last line was very nice 'The crowd can’t see the wet eyes that sunk in his hands'.

[Roshan Nair]

Thanks a lot abhilash, In my featured review here, I have explained the piece. If you wish to understand the context, I have written it there.
Im glad you liked the piece and its flow, Im grateful for your review :) thanks and cheers

[Tricia O'Brien]

You're so rad, honestly, this is sick and I love it
:)
Keep grooving my friend

[Roshan Nair]

Thanks tricia :) Im glad you dug the style and write :) cheers

[MsJewel]

The images you have created are so vivid...so real. You have so much talent my friend. Well written and a pleasure to read even though I'm not familiar with Watchmen.

:) Julie

[Roshan Nair]

Thanks a lot julie, Im glad you liked the piece so much :) you compliments truly touch my heart :) cheers

[Cool Girl]

This was fantastic! It reminds me of how people can look very different on the inside.
Some hide behind smiles, or laughs, or jokes..
But they are all truly sad.
Nicely written, my friend :)
Take care......

[Roshan Nair]

Thanks a lot :) Im glad you liked it. And I agree with what you say, the masks don't yield that easy. cheers :)

[Cool Girl]

You're very welcome!

[Saddam]

To break away from the prison of bridges and freeways,
To run long enough and get far enough to start new days.

A massage full write. Mind blowing, it is showing the real skills of you friend.

[Roshan Nair]

Thanks saddam for the kind words and appreication, Im glad you liked it :)

[Ishita Dixit]

To break away from the prison of bridges and freeways,
To run long enough and get far enough to start new days.
He gets out the punch line, like the end of a poetic rhyme that broke,
He drops the mic, sinks his head in laughter so hard he almost chokes,

The crowd can’t see the wet eyes that sunk in his hands: they say to themselves
....Maybe only the comedian got the joke.

Very true.
It's the funniest people who are actually the saddest.
Nicely done!

[Roshan Nair]

Thanks a lot ishita, your appreciation means a lot :) glad you could connect, and yes the funniest of people are the ones with the most to hide emotionally or just are lost as to how to convey. cheers :)

[Emily]

Great idea for a poem!
Well done!

[Roshan Nair]

Thanks a lot emily!

[Sami Khalil]

Comedy and comedians can teach us like teachers and be effective. The message of irony is part of our reality. Excellent subject and poem...:).......

[Roshan Nair]

Thanks a lot sami for that kind review and appreciation. Im glad you could connect to it :)

[Sami Khalil]

Yep. You are welcome...:).......

[dan]

Roshan, Not being familiar with Watchmen, either comics of films, this was somewhat hard to follow, not knowing the reference points. But I CAN tell you that the writing's top notch, your rhymes work very well and the presentation is great as well. Sorry I can't really understand more, but this is very well done! take care...dan

[Roshan Nair]

If you don't mind, I'll try to explain it in a few words: The comedian took everything as a joke, as it was the only way he could digest the cruel and blind reality people live. HE points it out to the world every night and they laugh at the humor it creates, because they take it as just a monologue aimed to amuse. The comedian points out the reality in all its irony each night to no avail...One fine day he just paints it as raw and plain as he knows it and the people don't get what he means. because they've become so blinded by the systems in their reality...they are just numb listening to what he has to say.

I'm hoping this gets a little more clarity to you on the theme. I tried my best to explain the concept. Either ways, Thank you so much, dan for the review and in this case, the patient reading and reflection. I do appreciate it a lot my friend. cheers. :)

[dan]

So I should have just taken it more literally than I was looking at it. Thank you for the explanation, it reads much better now that I know what I'm looking at. Sorry that I was so slow on the uptake. take care...dan

[Roshan Nair]

No worries dan, I am happy that you empathize with the piece better :) cheers