The Tragedy of Comedy


Robin Williams 7/21/1951 - 8/11/2014


THE TRAGEDY OF COMEDY


To drain away the agony he feels
the comic mugs and riffs
spiraling one joke atop another.
He cackles as you laugh,
opens his robes
and throws another joke at you
so you cannot see
the tracks his tears have made
from his eyes to his heart.

He opens his grin-box
and spills the contents over you,
saving nothing of its contents
for himself.
It has been said that
comedy equals tragedy plus time
but if true, it means
he must live with tragedy
until time converts it,
bearing the weight
beneath his own smile.

He never laughs when he is alone
never cries when he is not,
needing our love of his silliness
to carry him through another day,
his nights carrying him along
a river of his own tears
and blood, and sweat.

Weep for him, if you must,
shed a tear at his exit,
realize what we have lost,
but know that even now
when it will do him no good,
he only wants you to smile,
laugh at his jokes
and love him for who he showed you,
not who he truly was.

-----

Sadly shared with DVerse Poets for Open Link Night, in honor of the late, great, Robin Williams.

©2014 Christopher Reilley
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Comments

  1. It still stings...a tragic loss. This really made me pause...
    "He opens his grin-box
    and spills the contents over you,
    saving nothing of its contents
    for himself."

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  2. It's sad that one that makes others laugh can hold so much sorrow. sigh - your words have conveyed the inner pain.

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  3. A great eulogy to a great comedian

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  4. What a beautiful poem of him, the sadness behind the smile. Those who laugh much cry more. I know. Thank you!

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  5. A beautiful tribute. What a huge loss to have lost him from this planet.
    These lines really captured me,
    "He opens his grin-box
    and spills the contents over you,
    saving nothing of its contents
    for himself."
    Thank you for sharing your voice.

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  6. A superb tribute to Robin Williams. It's tragic, really, that a man who brightened our days, suffered so much.

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  7. A lovely, sad tribute to Robin Williams. I'm sure it fits many others, too.
    "he only wants you to smile,
    laugh at his jokes
    and love him for who he showed you,
    not who he truly was."

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  8. There is an old story I once heard - a guy goes to the doctor and tells him of his overwhelming sadness, his inability to find joy anywhere, an ache in his soul. The doctor tells him, "Tonight at the Lyceum, the great clown Pagliacci is performing. My prescription is for you to go to the show, relax, be entertained, have some fun, let sunlight into your soul."

    The man shakes his head sadly. "Doctor, I am Pagliacci."

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  9. Beautiful tribute! He had such compassionate eyes, miss him! ❤️

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  10. Sharp and poignant character study on Robin and other clowns who cry behind doors. They charm the world, but cheat themselves (and their families, if they have them.)

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  11. This brought tears to my eyes. He was such a storehouse of talent and yet...

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