He colors the room
with his painted garb
and painted white face.
Making the kids laugh

A piercing laughter
after every joke.
As he hops and skips.
As the kids chuckle .

With every gag and
every joke they lash
out in high pitch squeals.
As the clown dances and bounces.

But nobody sees the frown
under the painted  smile.
Nobody sees the pain.
Under the colored garb.