•
I’m the sad little clown with the frowning face
the round red nose and the great big tear
this meek facade and silly sham
belie the horror that I engineer
life’s dealt me cold my hand is slack
not one queen no king nor ace
so violence now dwells in me
masked behind my woeful face
no one suspects the evil soul
that festers deep in this funny fool
they know not the monster here
my gentle sheen conceals the cruel
they don’t realize a broken heart
a ruined life makes one quite mad
they simply see the pitiful
the painted face that looks so sad
the shaggy coat the baggy pants
the red suspenders the big white glove
they do not know it hides the hand
that choked the life from the one they love
town after town state after state
bodies mount in the circus’ wake
in the dead of night at the dark of moon
in frenzied fever each life I take
each beautiful each innocent
each unaware that they would die
there will be more on the road ahead
one for every tear you made me cry
when the circus comes and the tents go up
the people cheer in each sleepy town
because the poor fools just don’t know
who’s really come is the killer clown
• • •
rob kistner © 2011
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for two more tales of murder written in dark rhyme click “more”
It sounds morbid. Clowns that bring tears instead of laughter. Excellent verse!
Effective, haunting use of that solitary “you.”
Haunting, creepy, spine chilling imagery
So Geoff, you caught that isolated “you” — in early drafts of the poem I’d written “she”, buy realized it would be more gripping to use “you”… I’m pleased it worked for “you”… the piece was also free verse when I first wrote it and a bit more threatening in tone, but I ultimately felt the rhyme and the amoral tone made it so much more sinister…
I just love this. You sustain the rhyme so well and the story is built subtly. I was captivated from the first line.
We have to be on gaurd against those faces that always smile. This one is dark, Rob, but good.
A wonderful poem Rob.
Just shows you never know what hides behind a painted face.
A great read. Thanks.
A rap on clowns?
Taken in by the barker?
“no one suspects the evil soul
that festers deep in this funny fool
they know not the monster here
my gentle sheen conceals the cruel”
Wow, this is pretty ‘dark.’ The theme carries well and consistently throughout. Nicely done. I like it.
I only have one that visits “murder” but a bit more ‘tongue in cheek’ than yours. It can be found here:
http://insideoutpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/04/when-i-do-you-in.html
Rob, you have captured what I’ve always thought to be the face behind the paint. I am terrified of clowns, and while I was reading “It” a few years back I had to put it down. Well penned.
I am doing well, I hope you are too. Thanks for visiting and reading 🙂
Pamela
Well written. Your poem got better and better with each line.
holy cow! quite scary! … Hey this is a brilliant story telling with vivid play of words. Enjoyed reading. 🙂
You’ve captured the horror of a serial killer all wrapped up as a clown. Quite frightening! Well done!
Thanks for your comment & for stopping by my blog.
Clever stuff Rob – indeed who knows what lies behind any mask.
Anna :o]
I have always been wary of clowns…
The application of rhyme makes this more sinister. Wow…
Beth
This reminds me that even clowns have feelings deep behind the mask. And often are the creepy killers our nightmares depict.
yikes, this was even creepier than “It.”
which means you did a good job.
i was feeling sorry for mister clown in the beginning, but now i am running the other way…