Classic Poem

FOR GERIRUDE ATHERION

When we went to the circus
We had seats by the door,
Where the clowns made their entrance,
And a coach-and-four —

A shabby old carriage
Trying to be grand,
Painted up with gold figures —
Painted to beat the band.

In it sat a " princess "
In cheap, tawdry lace,
A gorgeous wig upon her head
And powder on her face.

I could see the clowns waiting
For their cues to come in;
How solemn were their faces
In that strange, hellish din!

Great elephants stood near them,
Trained seals and giraffes;
Together they were waiting
For five thousand laughs;

Together they were waiting
For the signal to begin
One face haunts me yet —
A boyish Harlequin

With a grave, sad expression
Even beneath that paint,
The deep eyes of a poet,
The thin cheeks of a saint.
'
Suddenly the band played
And everyone was off;
But somehow through the rush and roar,
I heard a little cough,

And I saw a tiny smile come
Around his lips and eyes;
But to me there was a tragedy
Beneath that pale disguise.

He pranced and cavorted,
And the children screamed with joy,
But I lost him in the mêlee —
What was one sad boy

When three rings were crowded
With tableaux and fun,
And the loud band was playing
" Johnny-get-your-gun! "

The chariots were racing
Around the outer track,
And a marvelous French juggler
Held a pole on his back,

And a girl like an angel
Dropped from a trapeze,
And I looked with wonder
At a young Japanese

Who twirled a bright barrel
Lightly on his toes;
Far down the arena
Loud laughter arose,

And my young clown was making
The people expire,
As he danced like a fool
On a long, thin wire.

They roared at his antics,
And clapped for a while,
And then grew weary
Of his smooth, fixed smile,

And turned to the others
Who romped in the ring,
And I lost my taste
For the whole silly thing.

I was glad it was over —
The false, foolish show.
But one face haunts me —
A sad, mad Pierrot,

A boy with the soul
Of a poet and saint,
Smiling in public
Beneath his cheap paint,

Yet looking so grave,
When no one could see
The ache in his eyes
But a fool like me.