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RSWells
Member Elite

since 2001-06-17

Posts 2533

0 posted 2001-11-30 01:53 AM

       "Qui non stultus?"
      (who is not a fool?)
                -Horace

The Tarot Fool
stands over a precipice
of choice or change.
His old life, a dog
nipping at his heels.
The Sun not yet peaked,
a town far below.
Unprepared for the former,
apart from the latter.
His number-zero-
the beginning of a soul's journey.
One best taken with little baggage.

Clowns used nonsense to
subvert existing order.

North American Natives had a type
of clown character, in some cases
believed to be able to cure certain diseases.

Fou Du Roi.

China, Mideastern, India,
European royal courts all
had jesters who could speak
blatant truths in humorous fashion
to convince rulers to change policy.
Many were intelligent.
Some lost their heads.

   "Art is a lie that tells the truth"
              -Pablo Picasso

No cowboy culture in Pittsburgh
in the 50's or 60's.
But I became a rodeo clown.
The downed rider
who didn't stay in her saddle
or whose mouth slipped a stirrup
or turned her back forgetting
the raging bull's character,
came to depend on my
lightening rod interference.
With darting speed the winded Toro
would exhaust red eyed
and but for some bruises
we would know a peace.

The jester's role didn't play
well in school, at least with
authorities and in hindsight
earned only a "most funniest"
at graduation.

Retail co-workers would,
at slower times, gather in
encouragement for the imitations
of superiors, the disparagement
of customers, the taunting
nicknames of peers.

There are no more court jesters
(unless you count vice-presidents).
Disabled American's Act protects
the dwarf, hunchback, the gimp.
Hollywood and John Wayne Gacy
ruined the clown.
One daren't ridicule nationalities,
races, the young or old.
Leaders are protected by patriotism.

Regardless, middle age
finds me Pagliacci
and even with the
carnival mirrored, convex blur
which is now my view
from the flat side of a tear,
humor's jest a rumor.

Shuffle the cards.
Send in the clowns.

"Happy people have no history" - French Proverb

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

1 posted 2001-11-30 02:17 AM

Shuffle in the clowns
Switch the cards you send
You can still ridicule
Ridicule
sans being
ridiculous
you jest
must be
the best,
or at least
quicker than
the rest

rwood
Member Elite

since 2000-02-29

Posts 3793
Tennessee

2 posted 2001-11-30 07:09 AM

I thought that was what our underlying sarcasm was. The art of telling the truth and getting away with it?..with some snickers by takers and those that understand it. You are deep but very witty and I appreciate what you offer. The entirety is a grand entrance and a grand presentation. More!

Sincerely,
Regina

Nan

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-20

Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA

3 posted 2001-11-30 07:16 AM

I really enjoyed this, RS... It surely takes a certain amount of experience to really appreciate the archetypical inferences you've made here... aka.. being a bit jaded?? I'm with ya there...

I particularly like these imagery-laden lines...

quote:

carnival mirrored, convex blur
which is now my view
from the flat side of a tear,
humor's jest a rumor.

Shuffle the cards.
Send in the clowns.

Exceptional write, my friend..

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

4 posted 2001-11-30 09:31 AM

Bravo!

Sven

Member Laureate

since 1999-11-23

Posts 14937
East Lansing, MI USA

5 posted 2001-11-30 12:50 PM

the jester still speaks, even today, but perhaps his face is not as painted as it once was. . . let him continue to speak, for we are always in need of him. . .

I was struck by the line about Pagliacci. . . it's always been a favorite of mine. . . especially at the end of Act I. . . where Canio sings, "Ridi del duol che t'avvelena il cor or "Laugh at the pain which poisons your heart". . . so too do we sometimes. . .to make it through. . .

thank for letting me ramble. . . sometimes, it's what I do. . .

--------------------------------------------------------------

To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world.

MARK V SHELDON
Member Elite

since 2001-06-21

Posts 3015
In a corporeal internship...

6 posted 2001-11-30 06:19 PM

Funny, isn't it, how serious things are no laughing matter yet in their paradoxical irony remain humorous? Without the sane outlet of humor, would we remain smiling?

-MVS

"Your focus determines your reality." --Qui-Gon from The Phantom Menace

http://www.davidicke.com

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

7 posted 2001-12-01 02:38 AM

Yes - this is definitely one to be proud of, fluff your Pittsburgian (lol) feathers, this is absolutely one of the best you have spun yet Richard. Not much I can add to the comments above as I am late and its covered, so another Bravo to you poet!

~*~ Carpe' Diem ~*~

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