Two Clowns

Two Clowns

Double Rondeau

Rondeau I

The white clown with glitter sleeves
And high question-mark eyebrows
Cannot hide his amazement,

For here comes August
Ready to wreck the circus tent.

He dabs his forehead,
Straightens his jabot again,
Looking as though terrified—
The white clown.

The red one tries to trick him
Or conspicuously hide himself,
But then it becomes clear
How the whole joke is built
Where every detail must fit
For both clowns.

Rondeau II

The red clown hangs in the ropes
Ruminating on the rain of blows.
There was quite some pounding,
Though he kicked about wildly.

Apparently he must not mourn it.
He claws himself upright again
And shuffles off once more
On shoes with elongated tips—
The red clown.

With overstretched tension peaks
And always the same feeble jokes
Fit for children and women:
Snapping, snarling, shuffling, hauling.

He cannot swallow his tears—
The red clown.

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