The Man Who Laughed (2014)

A tribute to the late great robin Williams.

The eyes of the man who laughed

Tell his story

So much differently

   Than anyone would ever know--

   Than anyone would ever think

From his charisma on the stage--

The words upon the page

   Tell us now of his demise--

   Tell us how his widow cries--

Alone at night now,

In a cold and broken marriage bed.

   Now I see the truth--

   Now I carry it with me,

   Same as you carried it with you--

The eyes of the man who laughed

Tell us more

Than the roles he portrayed--

   About the darkness he longed to erase--

   With every standing joke

The laughing man would ever tell--

But darkness will dwell

   When laughter is pushed aside--

   When laughter turns to cries--

And hope seems to fade,

Like some lonely and distant shore.

   Now I see the truth--

   Now I carry it with me,

   Same as you carried it with you--

Against my heart--

  Against my will--

I see how the laughing man's eyes

   Have come to rest now--ever-still.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

I still think of this very thing about R.W. . . . every time I watch him do comedy or serious roles . . . how did I not notice that huge sadness in his eyes, as you describe so well by only barely referring to whatever it is that could be seen in his eyes, that haunting, I saw it too . . . after he was gone . . . it was so freakin' obvious that all our laughter did not jive with the way his eyes looked. Your poem does this justice in a way that I've never heard anyone mention before about R.W. (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Wesley Dingler]

Suffering from depression myself as a young man I saw it in a lot of his films good will hunting, what dreams may come. I didnt peg him for a suicide though. That shocked me and made me sad. He was so talented.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'The Man Who Laughed'
Wesley Dingler,
Those among us how long...
how long will last?
every breath giving, taking,
Sharing life lessons, applying.
Do we listen to them, ourselves?
One moment, one day is it a given?
Precious ones; friends, acquaintance family .
I miss you already.
You know what I have found this opportunity
to process my own thoughts. It is good to do.
I liked your poem!
Kathy

[Wesley Dingler]

Excellent to hear. Not only that you enjoyed it gave you a window of time to steady your own thoughts. That is way more important.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

I wish you some moments of happiness and peace this Holiday season as you consider it's meaning.
read moreI wish you some moments of happiness and peace this Holiday season as you consider it's meaning.
Kathy