In the morning
before every party,
I paint a mask
over my face;
I start with
a white Grimaldi base,
then, I apply
a wide, red smile,
and finally, I finish
with big, blue eyes.
The music
commences,
the cars
pull up,
and I
wait silently
for screams
of joy
to start.
Little children
love balloons
that float
on strings
high above
their heads;
I like balloons, too!
They are gifts
of breath.
They are
Exhales
Trapped
Inside
Rubber.
A clown knows
that beauty
is tied up
in youth
like a curled,
sparkly
ribbon.
When the work day ends
and I wash away
my bright colors,
sublime shadows
creep up
over the trees
and they surround
that familiar moon.
Hi Hooo!
I come alive
in the darkness, hearing
church bells ring, and
drunk men sing with
twinkling stars
flashing within
their distracted eyes;
the forest becomes my maze,
bus stops turn into jackpots,
and tender chests
excites my gaze.
Hi Hooo!
Set free
from need
now I can
laugh
again,
I can
be young
again,
I can
try out
new knots,
bring over
new friends,
and bind them
up with rope,
so that it’s
easier
to enjoy
their bodies
and look at
their skulls;
Hi Hooo!
I like to think
that I was just playing
pretend…
I like to think that
all of God’s children
are special…
Yet, here I am…
Wondering
when my balloons
will pop…
Wondering
how human flesh
decays…
Wondering
when their breathing
will stop…
Wondering
why Christ
left.
-- Morgenrede is a Mid-Southern man who takes care of two cats and plays pinball in his off time. He has two self-published collections, 'Eyes Impaled by Spikes' and 'USING YOUR HAND TO BLOCK OUT THE SUN,' and one book of poetry titled 'ABUSER' that is published with Pig Roast Publishing.