THE CLOWN

THE CLOWN

LITTLE DOG BARKING WILD
PULLED BY CHAIN BY MISTRESS ANGRY
EQUALLY AT DOG AND ME
I HADN'T MEANT TO GIVE OFFENSE
NOR IN MY MIND EVER DID I
I AM NO BEGGAR THOUGH BEG I DO
BUT NOT FOR NOTHING
FOR I WILL SING OR DANCE OR PLAY THE FOOL
FOR YOUR COPPERS I WILL AMUSE YOU
BUT I HAD NOT MEANT TO MAKE HER ANGRY
IN FACT WHEN FIRST IT HAPPENED THIS CLOWN WAS SILENT
CRYING SILENTLY IN SHAME AND HUNGER
ALL DAY I'D LABORED AT MY TRADE
ANOW WITH NIGHT'S COLD CHILL APPROACHING
NOT ENOUGH FOR COFFEE AND A BUN
TO STILL THE VOICE OF HUNGER TILL THE MORNING
FOR ALWAYS I WOULD SAVE ENOUGH FOR MORNING
A CLOWN MUST START HIS DAY THE BEST HE CAN
NO I HAD NOT MEANT TO MAKE HER ANGRY
BUT THE PUPPY CAME WHEN I WAS SILENT
HE SMELLED MY CLOTHES WHICH MUST CONTAIN
A THOUSAND DREAMS
STANDING UP AGAINST MY LEG
HE TAPPED ME FOR ATTENTION
THEN BARKED A SOUND THAT BROKE MY REVERIE
I SAW HIS FRIENDLY EYES
THE FIRST I'D SEEN ALL DAY
 BENT TO PET HIM
TO SORT OF SAY HELLO
TO SAY THANKS
SHE PULLED HIM BY THE CHAIN IN SUDDEN ANGER
BUT HE WOULDN'T COME
BUT FOUGHT THE CHAIN
BARKING AND SQUIRMING AND SLIPPING HIS COLLAR
HE CAME RUNNING BACK TO ME
WHO PICKED HIM UP AND TOOK HIM BACK
 RETURNED MY FRIEND TO HIS CHAIN
WHO RECEIVED NO THANKS EXCEPT SHOULD BE OFF THE STREETS
OFF THEY WENT ONE SILENT
ONE CRYING FOR HIS FRIEND
 ONE MYSELF HUNGRY WITH THE NIGHT FAST COMING
WITH NO CHAIN OR FRIENDS TO HOLD ME



FRANK A VOLLMER