‘If by chance some day you’re not feeling well and you should remember some silly thing I’ve said or done and it brings back a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart, then my 
purpose as your clown has been fulfilled.’
– Red Skelton
I never wanted to be known
as class clown
being the buffoon never my style
even in younger days I
preferred wit to slapstick
drollery and pathos
over crudeness and burlesque
Looking back I saw
missed opportunity in my humor
camouflaging as it did my
other attributes
my reputation cemented
as the fun, funny guy who could
always be counted on for
the big laugh
unexpected punchline
As time passed all I wanted
was the respect
of my peers
those who liked me, others
who I admired
for themselves
Decades have passed
as have classmates
frequently I have been called upon
to provide a moment –
my amusing or hilarious take
on something past
story, funny toast, anecdote,
or memory
in times we gather
happy times or sorrowful
personally, or online
I am the one
to dilute the sadness
with quirky eulogist’s take on
someone’s life, shared times
Acceptance of my ‘character’
character was a
long time coming
though eventually, grudgingly
I acquiesced to long-ago-forged
rapier-wit persona
tempered as it was by time in
the minds of others
But a funny thing happened
on my way to
being jester remembered
a comment, once – from
an old friend, yet another
from someone else
more have followed suit
comments of gratitude
or being there
to lift spirits on down days
remove the edge
from darker moments
just being me
These certainties I know now
relied upon by others
comfort, in some way
relief, reassurance to people
whose respect I long
sought, long ago discounted
Death, taxes, a quip from me
one out of three aint bad
I’ll take that to my grave
even though I have always believed
you can’t take it with you
because I cannot in good conscience
leave such an important gig
to someone else
As the show must always…
go on, now.
– Mark Lucker
© 2019
http://lrd.to/sxh9jntSbd
#laughter #comedyandtragedy
#NaPoWriMoprompt1 #NaPoWriMoApril2019
Ponderable polemics, poetic 