Tiny Jester

With dangling strings of white lace

I jig helplessly as a playful tiny jester

(of hypocritical luminosity)

Tumbling, turning, twisting, toppling

In cartwheels and handsprings

So – carefree – free – but bound

To these damn strings

-

This puppet that you toy with

(you childish daemons!)

Possesses the mime spitted face of

Snow chuckles and ruby dimples

Hollow laughter to which you gleefully chime

But never those pitiful raven frowns

Or dotted cerulean water drops

Damn you – sadistic puppet masters!

-

This rusty side-burned Pinocchio

Totters as you dip my strings – but I grin

Smirk – despite anguish – despite terror – smirk

To allow you the sanity of peace and comfort

I relinquish my amendment – my pursuit of happiness

To cheer your mourning black shawled spirits

(and cast my own to the Arctic glaciers)

As I plaster my mask into my skull – again

-

Tiny Jester – his breath ceased – heart froze – this night

Butyou mustn't release a salty emotion

(though your brotherhood has shattered into vase caps)

For us – your fervent mask must smile and chuckle for

Our still existent scarlet thread is yours

Preserve – shield – strengthen it

With the potency ofsuch agleeful spirit

Faith burdens your jingling wooden gloved hands

-

Am I only a jarred sprite?

Lighting bugs subject to your selfish gratification?

Shaken – flipped – flickering within an invisible glass shield

Always fettered to hoaxes – Halloween yarns

(But my fluorescent wings are dulling quickly)

These damned strings burn worse than lidded wings!

This insensitive jester's mask is peeling – melting in paint spatters

And I trip whilst juggling heartache and hilarity

-

My companions – this stringed comedian is weary

Of hooting amiss black tie funeral moments

Won't you finger the oxidized scissors of reality

Chop - mutilate - tarnish these damned strings

So that I may weep and crash to my trembling knees?

Scream! Curse! Wail! (all at once and separate)

(beat my fleshy chest with a bleeding heart inside)

And mourn my friend's death too?