developing thoughts from the phrase "paper dreams."
This may speak to those who are living in or who have suffered from abuse. Often times we put on our faces to cover up the pain inside.


The Naked Clown

Paper dreams
Crumbled
Thrown into dying embers
Creates a fire raging
Lapping
Licking life from the lost hopes
Now smothered in ashes
Black soot streaked with tears
Enhance the sadness of the
Foolish clown
Dance Clown, laugh Clown, cry Clown
Look at your smile painted red
Grotesque
Your face now distorted
From pain
A silent scream from those
Blood soaked lips
Where is the joke, Clown?
Look into that shattered mirror.
All the world laughs as you cry.
Cry Clown, Die Clown
Your circus days are over.
Take off your suit.
Scrape away the make-up.
Throw away the wig.
Stand naked before yourself.
See the absurdity of who you are not.
Ah, but the show must go on.
So, I shall wear my wig
I paint my face.
Wear my suit of sorrow
And then I
Will dance.
For I am the Clown in this circus of life.
And you, you are the Master of Misery!





Poetry by Kathy Lockhart
Read 725 times
Written on 2006-12-08 at 07:18

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reminds me of this bollywood film called "Joker". Anyone seen it?
2006-12-11


Phyllis J. Rhodes
Like our brother, my first emotion upon reading this was anger, white and hot, against the one who made these words real to you. With a second read, some calming breaths and a few words of release, I can tell you that this is a poem for all time, for all those who have been and are being hurt by monsters in their own human masks. It is truely a brilliant piece by a brilliant writer who got her stripes the hard way.
2006-12-10


Teala
This gave me chills, Kathy. The imagery, metaphors, and pain are all so real..
2006-12-10


Zoya Zaidi
Kathy, this is brilliant, the way you have gathered those images together to create a collage of the different masks that we wear...
The symbolism the metaphors are all very creative...
The sadness that you managed to evoke is beyond words...
*Bookmarked*
(((Hugs for this intelligent write, loved it))))
Love, Zoya
2006-12-08


Daybreaker
So sad, and can't we all identify with that clown.

To hell with the masters of misery!

=/
2006-12-08


wee2souls
A very moving heartwrenching read..what we wear and mask..
the emotions in the read powerful..
love ya
cindymac
2006-12-08


Sam lockhart
Wow! You made me feel the rage, pain, sorrow and the hopelessness as well as a lot more emotions. I can see who and what you write about. Your discripions play like a movie in my brain. I will write a poem of response. I know I could never be as good as you, but I feel the need to respond. Love you, Your Brother Sam
2006-12-08


Rob Graber
I find the choppy sentences of lines 22-27 to be a hugely effective climax to this very moving write.
2006-12-08


weirdzarun
What a sad and darknening color of a work this is. Very beautiful imagery, and I love the pauses you take. Good work.
2006-12-08


Liza Daquini
So true...you describe the feeling/problem/masks so vividly and correctly.Unfortunately I guess that many of us can relate to the clown...Luckily we also have the choice to take the masks off!Thank you for this "strong" text!Love Liza
2006-12-08



Thoroughly enjoyed this trip through the mind of a strong woman Kathy. The end lines are spot on where most women are concerned with men, especially the poetic type. Smiling at you, keep on truckin on girl! Tai
2006-12-08


Chris Fernie
Dear Kathy,

The history of clowns is the history of the human condition; I very much hope that, on balance, you wear the jolly ancient Greek mask more often than the sad one. Besides, from where I stand in the Chorus you look magnificent!


With love and custard pies,

Chris xxx
2006-12-08


Saga
So painful, yet so moving as well, I really felt this!!!
2006-12-08