When the music stops
And the laughter is over
Who’ll take care of the clown?
When all have sung to their heart’s content
And all have laughed till their sides have bent
All spirits are high – all effort spent
Who’ll take care of the clown?
When notes have lost their sweet refrain
The final joke fully explained
When status quo has been maintained
Who’ll take care of the clown?
Though grand in chorus, the song finally ends
Though mirth explosive, the exit still rends
The quiet throughout eternity spends
Who’ll take care of the clown?
The leader in song, though no song within
The enhancer of mirth, yet alone in the din
To encourage all others, much to his chagrin
Who’ll take care of the clown?
When all will acknowledge this life is a song
‘Tis also a joke gone utterly wrong
The song is so short – the joke much too long
Who’ll take care of the clown?
When the music stops
And the laughter is over…
Published in “The Flame of Eternity: The Poetry Guild” in 1999
