Perfidy

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This has a bit of a lot of us in it. Written at a low ebb in my life and inspired by a greetings card of a harlequin at a function. While inside the courtyard there was a party going - with the king and the courtiers making merry - the clown sat, dejected, with his back against an arch. The black and white chequered floor had a crack running along it. The picture strangely gave me strength. It gave me purpose and gave me the will to move forward, up and out of the depression I was in. What may initially appear to be a sad poem, I hope you will find that it is not. Thank you.

18th August 2014: How words come back to haunt us. What sad news it was to hear about Robin Williams' death. A man who brought joy, laughter and hope to millions, with his inimitable humour, has departed this earth. By his own hand.The clown succumbed. It is not for us to judge, nor blame, nor lay fault. The world is a poorer place because of this great man's demise. RIP Robin Williams

Perfidy

A hollow laugh reverberates
Through the empty chambers
Of a lonely heart

Love's labours lost.
Stolen. Thrown away.
The echo continues.....

To penetrate through
To the very soul
And render it bare

Yet still. Yet still
The tears of sadness, joy and fear
Roll down the cheeks
Of the harlequin
Standing stolidly on the courtroom floor.

Providing those all around
With profound, meaningless pathos;
Mirth and enlightened insight
To this conjurer of fools.

Yet what do they know?
Only those who have heard the echo.
Scrambled aimlessly
In the unforgiving void

(Caused by themselves
Or someone else...
Does it truly, really matter???)

Only those who've been there
And watched their world torn asunder
Will appreciate the jester's plight

A hollow laugh reverberates
Through the empty chambers
Of a million broken hearts.

Clowns and kings and courtiers
Bow lowly to your show
For those who will never understand
There's no need to let them know. 

So let them watch and be there
Play kindly to them all
But despite the whispers, taunts and gibes
Never falter, fail or fall

Stand proud, alert and happy
Use those echoes as your tools
To use when in the public "court"
Allow the fool to fool the fools.

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