Only this poem, by Red Skelton, can express my thanks to all the clowns and jesters who have worked so hard to make our world a lovable place. I thank you with Red's words. Adaline
The Circus
The circus! The magical city
That appears and disappears with the bat of an eye.
A cathedral for children and adults
Made of canvas and trimmed with red wagons.
A sunburst of wheel, pink lemonade and cotton candy.
A temple housing the unity of man and beast...
All performing for the good of their fellow man
With shouts of glory.
The perfomers’ only reward is the echo of the applause
And laughter of children.
It cradles them to sleep.
As the red wagons roll from city to city.
The clown hides his sorrows behind a mask --
Sometimes grotesque, sometimes sad,
but always with a whimsy that is an encouragement
That makes any deformity of life seem minute.
A lesson in humanity, where man and beast risk life
Until this week's series of posts, I'd never seen the gentleman out of make-up. In fact the only times I've seen him live were in 2 tele-recordingd for Billy Smart's a while back. As a former Chairman of Clowns International, I sen him my/our congratulations on his well-deserved award.
Only this poem, by Red Skelton, can express my thanks to all the clowns and jesters who have worked so hard to make our world a lovable place. I thank you with Red's words.
ReplyDeleteAdaline
The Circus
The circus! The magical city
That appears and disappears with the bat of an eye.
A cathedral for children and adults
Made of canvas and trimmed with red wagons.
A sunburst of wheel, pink lemonade and cotton candy.
A temple housing the unity of man and beast...
All performing for the good of their fellow man
With shouts of glory.
The perfomers’ only reward is the echo of the applause
And laughter of children.
It cradles them to sleep.
As the red wagons roll from city to city.
The clown hides his sorrows behind a mask --
Sometimes grotesque, sometimes sad,
but always with a whimsy that is an encouragement
That makes any deformity of life seem minute.
A lesson in humanity, where man and beast risk life
and limb for the meager reward of applause.
How sad it would be if my youth would pass away
And not see the beauty of the big red wagons,
And taste the rare vintage of pink lemonade!
Or become so blasé’ that I couldn’t offer a silent prayer
For the man on the flying trapeze,
Or sigh as I watch him swing to and fro.
I see my own life in motion like the pendulum
On the huge clock that ticks away life.
Oh, keep me young without prejudices.
Without haste, so that I will be young.
So that my heart will be filled with glee
Next year, when the big red wagons roll in again!
To me, a great clown said that—my Dad.
Red Skelton
Until this week's series of posts, I'd never seen the gentleman out of make-up. In fact the only times I've seen him live were in 2 tele-recordingd for Billy Smart's a while back.
ReplyDeleteAs a former Chairman of Clowns International, I sen him my/our congratulations on his well-deserved award.
John Cooper.
Awesome video, and I imagine, awesome week! Wish I coulda been there . . .
ReplyDeleteBruce the Clown
Thanks for the video on all your work on the reunion.
ReplyDeleteMichael Craig CC 85' & 90'