John Kaniecki’s most recent poem to appear here was Various Words (August 2013).

Clowns
By John Kaniecki

Wall Street at morning, Manhattan downtown
I start laughing as I pass clown after clown
No painted face or flashing red nose
A clown he needs none of those
Mockingly funny, gloomy despair
God bless the one who has no care

Who is the fool?
The one who serves or those that rule?

What is the purpose of a tie?
Not a napkin to clean a mess
Not a cloth for tears to dry
Simply something to impress
And for those of higher ilk
You can purchase one of silk!
In olden days slaves wore an iron chain
Ties are for clowns proud and vain