Beneath the laughter, there’s a deeper story—one of fragility, identity, and the weight of expectations.
Today’s word prompt was “fool.” This poem explores the tension between performance and vulnerability, where a jester’s mask conceals the truth beneath. Through evocative imagery and rhythmic shifts, it reflects on the complex, often hidden, nature of self-identity in a world that demands laughter over authenticity.
They call me the jester,
painted smile wide,
a cracked porcelain mask
hiding the storms inside.
My laughter rolls like thunder—
loud enough to drown the cracks,
echoing in empty halls
where silence speaks volumes.
Fool’s burden, a heavy crown,
dance to lift their sorrows down.
A quiet jest, a fragile light,
burning bold against the night.
The world loves a fool,
a balm for its wounds,
but never wonders
whose blood paints the stage.
I juggle their joy,
the weight tilts the stage.
Each step trembles—
will it hold?
Fool’s burden, a heavy crown,
dance to lift their sorrows down.
A quiet jest, a fragile light,
burning bold against the night.
My mask slips,
fractures like webs.
If it falls, will they see me?
Or run away?
What is a mask without a fool—
a shadow, a whisper,
another voice lost
to the noise of the world?
Fool’s burden, a final plea,
who will stand when you’re set free?
(c) Eric Montgomery
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