the strange produced by sleight of hand
he tells jokes and he juggles
tricks magic to delight them and
then the balloon animals

squirting flower pinned to heartache
sprays of red streamers rain down
and yet another birthday cake
carried by the saddest clown

suspenders a fallen rainbow
hung from baggy blue britches
with no love left for tomorrow
he bends over and retches

he pulls his red rubber nose off
and then he begins to pace
with a sigh, choke, sob and a cough
tears wash the paint from his face

long stares at the gun in his hand
unused-shiny fourty-four
with end to his piņata and
spills his candy to the floor

the strange produced with gun in hand
his last joke drips and puddles
so tragic to see his body land
in those balloon animals