Thank you to Mark Antony Rossi of Ariel Chart for publishing this poem in the February issue.

The Jester Becomes The Jest

 

The sulking funny man on whom this day the tables are turned.

He has been momentarily shamed.

He must consider his current condition

while he holds the title of laughingstock.

 

He must call to mind past moments 

when he tricked others to play the fool.

 

His tricks have compromised his reputation.

Sadly, he hoots like a downhearted owl,

but the masked and pretentious merely yawn at his gags.

His life now measured by each shattering of his heart,

and his overlooked wishes.

 

His only hope for recovery 

lies in better reading people’s responses,

and body language,

and the fact that he must learn to care.