Image in Public Domain
Were I a clown, would you really know me?
Could you see beneath my grease-smeared smile?
Guess if joy or pain be glistening in my eyes?
Around, about the music swells,
echoes of laughter in flashing neon darkness.
Children fly in arcs though swollen clouds
of dry-ice smoke and popcorn magic
While lovers clasp each other tightly,
wrapped in cotton candy dreams
they ride the roller coaster waves.
Were I a clown, would you try to find me
cached in a mask of absurdity,
hidden from someone I’ll never be?
Over at dVerse Poetics, our wonderful hostess, Claudia Schoenfeld, invites us to have some fun at the Carnival. I’m sorry to disappoint as this poem isn’t exactly fun, but it’s what was given to me early this morning and I have to respect my muse. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. And happy Memorial Day to all.
Victoria C. Slotto, Author 
This is poingnant really. I’ve never been afraid of clowns. Have just always found them to be sad … except for Red Skelton’s.
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I agree with Claudia, you can almost always see the truth in the eyes, although I imagine some clowns realize this in their training and endeavor to fake the feeling in the eyes, too. I like how you used the different colors.
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I’m not a clown person but if I saw you without the make up I’d seek what was underneath again…great poem and excellent questions! Nicely done.
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Put on a persona and understanding comes with it, understanding of what’s behind the mask. I love your poem and the colourful way you have presented it to us. How do you get colour and a change of font on WP?
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Really nice Victoria, I like the somewhat lyrical feel here, very nicely done. I’ve always found the clowns to be fascinating, and absolutely love your final stanza here. Thanks
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Lovers and cotton candy dreams, good line. nice perspective of the clown.
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I never did like clowns. They always seemed so fake, scary, ominous even behind all that face paint. LOL
Nice capture of the prompt Victoria. Loved the lovers hugging tight 🙂 Nice image 🙂
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I think my wariness of clowns or anything I can’t read is what brought out this poem. Control issues, I think.
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Hi Victoria, was so scared of clowns when small – those colourful painted ones but somehow didn’t seem to mind the white painted clown with pointed hat – seemed more sensible – but yes the mask behind the clown – paint any face – the art of theatre – Were I a clown, would you really know me?
– Mmmm – hides many things – hugs lib
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wow…you’re getting rather reflective victoria…like your take much..there’s always a lot of false laughter and fun on such places as fun fairs and illusions of the moment..but you can always see it in the eyes if the smile is faked..
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you know i was a clown once…wrote about it earlier this week…smiles….if i still painted my smile on would it be real, if i have to like behind a painted on face is it really me?
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gotta respect our muse, afterall, the carnival is theatre, and the stage wears the dual mask of comedy and drama
could feel that “they ride the roller coaster waves”
thanks victoria 😉
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Clowning a complex mask–even in non-Carnival life. You’ve got that down here well. Thanks, Victoria. k.
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