The Comic - By Virginia Haefner WArk

The Comic

I sat and watched his antics
In a bar room filled with smoke.
I joined the patrons, laughing
At his never-ending jokes.

He played such lovely melodies
Across the ivories,
But he always changed the lyrics
To those of parodies.

He was a handsome fellow...,
I'd guess 'bout forty-five.
They say he never married,
Which came as no surprise.

For he made love to his piano
In a strange and tender way.
As his fingers scaled the keyboard,
He would steal your heart away.

But, through the smoke and laughter,
It wasn't hard to see
The heart that ached behind his eyes,
As he played his comedy.

I hung around for his last show,
Which was 'bout half-past-three.
I asked if he would like to have,
"One for the road," on me.

"That is so very kind of you,"
He said, "But what will yours be?
For I'm the one who buying,
If you'll stay and talk with me!"

"I'll pass," I said, "I've had enough,
But I'd love to stay awhile...,
I've caught your show so many times,
And you always make me smile."

"What made you become a comic..,
Is your music, not enough?
You play a mean piano...,
Isn't comedy real tough?"

"Ah, It's all in how you look at it,"
He said, "No..., not for me!
I have to keep on laughing,
It's the only way to be!"

"There is a clown in all of us...,
If not, there ought to be,
For who can't find some humor
In this world of tragedy.?"

"I know if I start crying...,
The tears will never stop!
If I feel my spirit slipping,
I'll never make it to the "top."

"I'd much rather see the laughter
On the faces of the cast,
Than open up some mortal wound
Of heartache from their past."

"So, you'll never hear a sad song
From my lips, while I'm alive,
For it's laughter we must live on,
If we all are to survive."

And when this "gig" is over,
And the show, we'll have to rate,
We"ll find the face that wears a smile,]
Will "open up the gate.!"

Written by Virginia Haefner Wark