Like a joker,
who laughs not for himself..
Who laughs in pain,
to see others happy..
I laughed at fate,
tears brimming in my eyes..
With each blow I got,
I laughed harder still..
I laughed in darkness, to hide my tears..
I laughed out loud,
my breaking heart ever unheard..
All laughed with me,
oblivious to my torments..
And when at last,
I stopped laughing,
“lucky man” they said,
“he died happy..”
-joker-
Of all the traits of personality that have ever been, and can ever be, written about,especially in poetry,self-deprecation (which in essence embodies a sense of personal humility),is probably the most challenging to use as subject material for poetry.The eponymous “Joker” pulls off this poetic-masterstroke with evident skill.For some reason,emotionally,rather than rationally, the poem called to my mind those great songs by Smokey Robinson,”Tracks of my tears” and “Tears of a clown”.This ranks amongst the other outstanding first posts on our site.The Company of the Excellent grows apace!
I agree with Louis. A bold and excavating poem in an apparent lighter vein. Well done, Joker.
“Joker”
I hope that these wonderfully marshalled thoughts are not representative of what you think when you are up on the steels in a turbine hall somewhere.
I was in electricity supply doing clerical work for the engineers at the start of my working life, and saw some heart-stopping sights in those places. I soon left for the lesser dangers of banking.
Great post – something really different.
Howard
this poem was written at the age of 18 and has nothing to do with turbines.. 😉
the reason for selecting this as my first post is because this is better introduction than my bio. It was through this poem that found myself at that age of acute identity crisis.
And it was after writing this that I adopted the pen name JOKER.
thanks to all for you wonderful comments. It is truly inspiring. The feeling that one is being noticed, positively, makes us perform better and with greater enthusiasm