You Owe Something To The Jester... Poem by Usman Hanif

Though the jester is sad
his lips are curled downwards
and he paints on his face;
a smile;
a goofy smile...
that makes everyone smile!

The button nose he uses
not to hide his scars
but to add crisp
to add life
to the others' smile

He is responsible;
for the joys, for the smiles
but how could he manage this
when he has no acquaintance;
with the smiles that he bears...


See... he's sad!
He knows that everyone knows
that he is smiling...
and he knows that he's sad
and no one knows this:
everyone knows everything of nothing
the sarcasm hidden in the lips
is disguised under the fake smile

You know what would he do?
he would keep on refreshing
your smiles, on and on
and he would flush his misery
when you close your eyes
and you couldn't help laughing
and under the sounds of laughter
you would never hear his sobs
with eyes shut, outlined
with the tears of laughter
you would never see his tears

When he would fall
purposely on his brain
your laughing heart would never see
the pain on his face
of falling headlong
he's not a joker after all...

At the end of show
when he bows down
he'd break down weeping
he'd cry...
and you would think...
'how fortunate is that jester;
that he always keeps on smiling! '
you're just a part of the mob

A pat on his shoulder is enough
to summon him up to repeat the game
but you're busy in laughing out
and you release your sorrows on him...

You owe him happiness
and you keep on mocking at him!
laugh out at what is written for him
somehow watch yourself in the mirror
you could also be someone's jester
you could also be disguised for someone...
you're the jester
and you laugh out at yourself! ! !

23-09-2008