Do You Know This Man?
He wears a clown’s mask, but no smile lurks below.
He’s brings laughter to a crowd, so his sadness doesn’t show.
He’s hides his artistic side. “That is not the way of men!”
He mourns his shattered world; over and again.
Do you know this man?
He is not handsome, nor worldly, nor a resounding success.
He does not portend to be, and this he does profess.
He is loyal and honest: on him you could depend.
A hopeless romantic, with a broken heart he cannot mend.
Do you know this man?
Inside his imperfect shell, a warm heart plays coy;
a heart that yearns for love; for tenderness; for joy.
Echoing through his tortured mind, memories churn endlessly;
of happier times, of bygone friends: no tranquility.
Do you know this man?
Have you ever engaged him, or looked beyond his skin?
Do you know the purveyor of mirth and kindness that dreams within?
He, too, feels pain, and love; anguish and fright;
the bone numbing chill of a frosty winter’s night……..alone.
Do you know this man?
Pay heed, all ye, the beautiful, the blessed.
To the one who brought laughter, as they lay him to rest.
Peace eludes him, desperation guides his soul.
His departure will be silent; the one thing he can control.
Do you know this man?
©Brian Greenleaf 2008
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Anna
I kid you. You know I love you, dear friend. This poem is awesome....as are you. :)
Hugglies,
Alias Julius
This is profound work...made me think deeply and for that I am grateful..
( PS I think it's time one of us reported this ALEX Dihes ( below)he has become downright nasty..perhaps he needs a shrink.. He has been sooo disturbing to AD lately..)
Blessings,
Vesna
I think I know this man. Occasionally he stares at me from the bathroom mirror.
Very well done,
keep your chin up and take care,
William.