NAKED CLOWN

the old clown strips down
a fool stripping to the raw
the audience sits staring
amazed
not even makeup
covers what he shows
his humorous sadness
they came to see

separating the audience and the clown
there trembles silence
and shivering with nakedness
he dances around it
reaching out to touch them
they yell and scream
ladies grab their men
running towards the locked doors

                      credit Marc Chagall with photo