The Cool Jester Sad Within

Poet's Notes

(Show)

Become a Premium Member and post notes and photos about your poem like John Anderson.

Cool Hand Luke is a 1967 American prison drama film directed by Stuart Rosenberg, starring Paul Newman and featuring George Kennedy in an Oscar-winning performance. Newman stars in the title role as Luke, a prisoner in a Florida prison camp who refuses to submit to the system.

{Quotes]

Dragline: Oh Luke, you wild, beautiful thing. You crazy handful of nothin'.
Luke: Oh come on. Stop beatin' it. Get out there yourself. Stop feedin' off me. Get out of here. I can't breathe. Give me some air. (response to challenge of swallowing 50 boiled eggs whole)

Listen to poem:

Always playing the fool, belittles self to buffoon. Cap with bells belies the deep sad truth within. Like blue-black ink squirts from octopus threatened, joking is a smoke-screen hiding deep-seated inadequacy, made worse by audience's insatiable need for jokes. Like 'Cool Hand Luke', the jester, always in demand, when really pressed, spurts out: "Stop feedin' off me".

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Frances Schiavina

Date: 8/1/2017 10:58:00 AM

Wonderful humor. Uplifting! Thank you