To Angela, Who Is Afraid of Clowns

A POEM

By Evelyn Bence | September 1983

Clowns are grandfathers

painted with strokes of laughter

who kiss lollipops

but never lick them.

Save your terror, child,

for snakes who talk of biting fruit

and wolves who scheme of eating girls.

Parting

Let the air be taken from me;

Let no water touch my tongue.

Though my…

Compassion

Ice in the spirit

Is but frozen tears

And bitterness

Is expectation killed.

A Stage Exists Someplace

When players voices no longer ring,

A set becomes a shabby…