I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

4 October 2017

Pretty Pierette

Some people hate clowns,
think them murderous 
with wide, round, staring eyes 
and crazy grins.

I, myself, despised
the lumbering, stupid
circus clowns of my childhood.
Then I found these others.

Now I am in love
with the clowns from the Carnival,
their patterned costumes,
their shapely masks.

Here at my left hand, overlooking 
the desk whereon I make poems,
there sits the loveliest of all –
a gift from a knowing friend.

Her white porcelain hands and face,
her elaborately painted eyes,
her bows and bells and glitter
show me she is beautiful but sad.

I know sad. Those frozen tears
on her blank, helpless face
remind me. They are for love lost:
remembering a different beauty.











Written for Poems of Garden Gnomes. The prompt: to write about whatever is just out of reach of one's left hand.

Also linking to Poets United's Poetry Pantry #389

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32 comments:

  1. marley raine4 October 2017 at 21:21

    Oh, I agree. Those are beautiful.

    The last stanza deeply touched me, Rosemary. Such lovely, sensitive work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade6 October 2017 at 08:14

      Many thanks!

      I have now been able to add a photo of the particular clown I was writing about – but hesitated to do so, as your comment revealed you have your own visuals. Maybe I should let people imagine ... but she is too pretty not to share.

      Delete
    2. ✿8 October 2017 at 11:00

      I have seen those, and this is exactly what I was thinking of. :)

      Delete
    3. belle5 February 2018 at 06:08

      I still love this poem and recognized it immediately.

      Delete
  2. Sherry Blue Sky3 February 2018 at 08:49

    Those closing lines just say it all so perfectly, Rosemary. Such a pretty, sad clown!

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  3. Mary4 February 2018 at 02:27

    I am glad you added the photo, Rosemary. I am not a fan of circus clowns either, but who could not appreciate / empathize with that Carnival clown with her frozen tears?

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade4 February 2018 at 08:22

      Oh, believe me, I have one friend who would view even this through a filter of horror movies and pronounce her ghastly! I sort of wrote the poem with that friend in mind – but without any real expectation of influencing her reaction.

      Delete
  4. Susan4 February 2018 at 07:11

    This poem makes me happy, as the companion cat to Miracle (before Sabrina and Mariah) in my life was Pierette! I thought I was making the diminutive of the French Pierrot, but here's a lovely image about female strength, sadness, equality and power! I identify with the entire poem. (Sometimes I called her Spirit, forcing a rhyme.)

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade4 February 2018 at 08:17

      I thought to feminise the name Pierrot., because her costume identifies her as a version of him.

      Delete
  5. Sumana Roy4 February 2018 at 17:05

    'frozen tears' seem to be the soul of this beautifully crafted poem.

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  6. Sanaa Rizvi4 February 2018 at 19:39

    I agree this is beautifully evocative, Rosemary!❤️ I resonate with those frozen tears and cherish 'remembering a different beauty.'❤️

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  7. Old Egg4 February 2018 at 20:51

    Yes, she is beautiful isn't she and your words are too as sad words often are as love is lost so much in our lives crumple into tears.

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  8. Kim M. Russell4 February 2018 at 20:52

    Oh, Rosemary, I'm one of those people who doesn't like clowns but I do love Harlequin and Columbine and similar characters. I saw plenty of them at the opening of the Venice Carnival last weekend. I too am in love:
    'with the clowns from the Carnival,
    their patterned costumes,
    their shapely masks'.

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade4 February 2018 at 21:44

      You were at the opening of the Venice Carnival? Wow, what an experience that must have been!

      Delete
  9. brudberg4 February 2018 at 21:00

    Maybe hating or loving the clown has a lot of how we see ourselves... many times the clowns are like a mirror for our own feelings... and I agree that your carnival clown is beautiful

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  10. Thotpurge4 February 2018 at 22:29

    I know sad... that line just sits there in the last verse breathing poignant life into the poem!

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  11. Gillena Cox4 February 2018 at 22:55

    Maturity changes perspective. Thanks for sharing you beautiful sad clown.
    Have a nice Sunday

    much love...

    ReplyDelete
  12. dsnake15 February 2018 at 00:23

    some people hate clowns because of some posts on social media and what some movies make them out to be. i think most of them are just doing their job, to add some cheer and colour to the day.
    thank you for sharing the poem. :)

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  13. Magical Mystical Teacher5 February 2018 at 01:25

    The loves we lose affect us deeply. Sometimes those losses are etched on our faces.

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  14. Donna@LivingFromHappiness5 February 2018 at 02:39

    I too did not like circus clowns, but was weaned on a happy clown on TV and loved him. Your carnival clown is beautiful and reminds me of that happy childhood clown.

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  15. annell45 February 2018 at 03:09

    I never liked them. Something behind the mask? Today I agree something sad about them.

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  16. Myrna R.5 February 2018 at 03:12

    This is such a sweet poem. I like your connection to the sad clown and how you express it. Lovely writing.

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  17. Magaly Guerrero5 February 2018 at 04:23

    I love all clowns--the glittery ones, the mean looking ones, the fat ones, the extra tall ones--love them all. I find them hysterical and admire their ability to walk in such enormous shoes. And clown figurines are stunning.

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  18. WildChild475 February 2018 at 05:50

    Your lovely clown is soft and gentle - she is stunningly beautiful - glad you've included the image :)

    I feel like I could just sit with her, in companionable silence, and appreciate that without having to say anything, she would understand.

    And I don't like clowns.

    Interesting poem Rosemary :)

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  19. ZQ5 February 2018 at 06:46

    Well said/written.
    ZQ

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  20. ayala5 February 2018 at 09:47

    Clowns always make me feel sad. A good capture and a perfect ending.

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  21. purplepeninportland.com5 February 2018 at 12:31

    I am so glad you included the photo. She is a lovely clown, and sad as I always imagine them to be.
    I love, 'frozen tears' for remembering another beauty.

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  22. Wendy Bourke5 February 2018 at 14:14

    A thoughtful piece and a message to challenge our preconceived notions of our likes and dislikes ... they did change as we move through life.

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  23. M. A. S.5 February 2018 at 17:02

    I love that last line.
    "remembering a different beauty."

    ReplyDelete
  24. kaykuala5 February 2018 at 20:35

    Funny enough, a contrast to what clowns are meant to be. Many a time clowns who are to bring laughter are depicted as a sad soul. Good thinking Rosemary!

    Hank

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  25. colleen6 February 2018 at 02:33

    More like Jesters. I like the last two lines. Congrats on the dVerse anthology.

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade6 February 2018 at 08:27

      Thank you! And yes, you are right about them being like Jesters. I like that perspective.

      Delete

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