Sunday, May 20, 2012

Yellow Clown Blues

Clowns always break me;
I see beneath the grease paint and rubber nose.

Your mask doesn’t work with me either,
no one’s does.

I carry the world’s
sorrow around my neck,
anger in my throat,
fear under my shoulder blades,

bilious, pressing,
threatening at any moment
to bubble through
in lavish sobs.



Image: The Circus with the Yellow Clown by Marc Chagall

This is written for The Mag where you will find many wonderful responses to the image provided by Tess Kincaid.  

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51 comments:

  1. JBinford-BellMay 20, 2012 at 12:41 PM

    Maybe that is why some of us fear clowns so much - they so mirror our pain under a fake face.

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    1. Other MaryMay 20, 2012 at 3:42 PM

      Yes, there is a lot of clown-fear out there.

      Delete
  2. JinksyMay 20, 2012 at 1:10 PM

    OMG! Heavy!?!

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  3. ayalaMay 20, 2012 at 2:58 PM

    Clowns always make me sad....nice write, Mary.

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  4. UnknownMay 20, 2012 at 3:19 PM

    I enjoyed the colorful title of your poem, Mary. The text is heart wrenchingly woeful.... convincingly so. Lavish kudos for the sobs. Thank you for sharing.

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  5. Laurie KolpMay 20, 2012 at 3:37 PM

    Oh, I do love this, Mary... especially the final two stanzas.

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  6. Other MaryMay 20, 2012 at 3:41 PM

    Apologies - I did some revision after I put this up, but it's basically the same message.

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  7. Other MaryMay 20, 2012 at 4:00 PM

    Thank you Gail!

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  8. Brian MillerMay 20, 2012 at 4:45 PM

    yeah, having been one...i can tell you sometimes the many times the smile is painted on....and i am pretty empathetic so i often pick up the burden of the world...

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  9. Other MaryMay 20, 2012 at 5:20 PM

    I believe that just from your writing and your comments Brian. Thanks for reading.

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  10. Wayne PitchkoMay 20, 2012 at 7:40 PM

    well done O Mary...thanks for sharing your words

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  11. AnonymousMay 20, 2012 at 8:44 PM

    Clown never fooled me either, and they're sooo. creepy. I like your honest perception of this painting.

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  12. zongrikMay 20, 2012 at 9:40 PM

    i like how you just admit that you see beneath the paint, no one talks about that

    show's about to begin

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    Replies
    1. Other MaryMay 21, 2012 at 2:07 PM

      Thanks Zongrik - sometimes I wish I couldn't.

      Delete
  13. ChristineMay 20, 2012 at 9:56 PM

    I think we all wear a mask, some painted others behind expressions, this was a brilliant write Mary

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  14. 21 WitsMay 20, 2012 at 10:30 PM

    Oh I too see through clowns, but if I try not to see them for who they really are...that seems to make all the difference...and it's a good thing.....for me. Now if only my daughter could see the happy side to clowns!

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  15. PattiKenMay 20, 2012 at 10:31 PM

    I like this a lot. I don't know why,but clowns often seem to look out of grinning greasepaint faces with sad eyes.

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  16. ShawnaMay 21, 2012 at 12:13 AM

    "Clowns always break me" ... I guess it's gotta be something.

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  17. Doctor FTSEMay 21, 2012 at 1:38 AM

    Like you, I always see clowns as tragic figures. I enjoyed your work here.

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    1. Other MaryMay 21, 2012 at 2:19 PM

      I wonder if you had Red Skelton on your side of the pond.... Thank you Doctor. :o)

      Delete
  18. SueannMay 21, 2012 at 6:23 AM

    I feel the tragedy here! Nicely done
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  19. christopherMay 21, 2012 at 9:12 AM

    I feel like giving you a hug so,

    (0)

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  20. BarbaraMay 21, 2012 at 10:03 AM

    I do like that fear/shoulder blades bit.
    Got to say: my first time for "bilious" in a poem

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    1. Other MaryMay 21, 2012 at 2:26 PM

      Thanks - I'm usually a good bet for something oddly gross! heheh

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  21. Tess KincaidMay 21, 2012 at 12:04 PM

    I never thought of sobs being lavish...I like that...

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    1. Other MaryMay 21, 2012 at 2:27 PM

      Thanks. I sob quite lavishly (an cry unattractively).

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  22. Ginny BrannanMay 21, 2012 at 12:11 PM

    I always think of "sadness" when I see clowns too--the pain disguised behind the "mask." Well captured, Mary.

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  23. chiccorealMay 21, 2012 at 1:01 PM

    Dear Mary: Clowns have this layered effect, so unauthentic some of them. I like the sad clowns for this reason. The funny ones are too fake. Wonderfully stated poetrics~

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  24. Susan AndersonMay 21, 2012 at 1:53 PM

    I'm not a mask-lover either.

    Nice write.

    =)

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  25. Other MaryMay 21, 2012 at 2:21 PM

    I'm glad to hear of a truly happy clown. :o)

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  26. HelenaMay 21, 2012 at 3:17 PM

    They sure are ominous in a lot of souls. I like the grip of fear portrayed in this poem and your determination not to succumb to it!

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  27. Silent Otto May 22, 2012 at 6:34 AM

    Its great Mary, never too dark for me. I heard a lot of comedians suffer depression really badly, so your right on it ! .
    Bill Jango

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    Replies
    1. Other MaryMay 25, 2012 at 6:58 AM

      Thank you Kutamun. Yes, I think humor is a way to try to cope with sorrows.

      Delete
  28. LynMay 22, 2012 at 9:47 AM

    So well known...the fear under shoulder blades. Perfect presentation!

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  29. hyperCRYPTICalMay 22, 2012 at 10:38 AM

    Heavy duty excellent write.

    Anna :o]

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  30. Other MaryMay 25, 2012 at 9:37 AM

    Thanks Anna!

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