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?
