Clowns

Spent two decades laughing out loud--
in costumes, parades, pleasing crowds.
For you, son, I became a clown.
My lucky colors—purple, gold—
transformed me into someone bold;
Turner Family Clowns … no frowns.
Sal Mineo + silly fame =
Sillysal! A clown and the sane!
Funnybone, ’76, profound,
Star ‘n Stripes, of course, Sugar, too—
the Ohio ‘family’ clowns! Thank you!
We traveled in and out of town
with bright yarn hair, grease paint, red nose—
sometimes animals, character, clothes;
Doug’s ‘Running Bear,’ a hound.
Oh, for crying out loud, the fun
was spectacular! Costumes won!
Then I went deaf … heard NO sound.
We separated, went our ways
and laughter faded, died away …

especially when Doug’s body found.

copyright 2008 Sandra S. Corona
"Wings" dedicated to my only son, Gregory Douglas Turner, AKA Funnybone, Aug. 8, 1969-Dec. 3, 1992