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.

Adam’s Second Day (waiting for Eve)

For him, tomorrow is another world.

But still he’d like to bring a god to…

Four

O God of love, Your Kingdom is a beach

with gold sand —

each grain…

Lines Written in the Dominican College Library

However pure this love, however holy,

I want to hold your poor flesh in my…