Writing by Derek Haines

The Clown Everybody’s happy; I’m everybody’s clown, I always wear my smiling face, even when I’m feeling down. No one sees the tears I shed, every single day, “Make me smile; I’m feeling sad,” all the world does say. And so I make them laugh, and warm them from within, They all think they love the clown, but I let nobody in. My greasepaint smile, always there, for that is all they see, Everybody loves the clown, but no one will love me. It’s not because some haven’t tried, but they have tried in vain. I am so unsure that I can love, without causing pain. The gift of love

My recent post about politicians had me searching my files for a verse I wrote some years ago. I had forgotten that my choice of vocabulary had been so graphic, so be warned before you go on to read this that it does contain some very course language. The image I have selected should also warn you that I have stripped my normal veneer of respectability and ventured into the uncouth. If you haven’t hit the ‘close window button’ by now, there is nothing more I can say that will deter you from reading on. Reading the verse again now only serves to remind me that nothing at all has

  Places I’d like to tell you of the places I’ve been. I’ve been to London to visit the Queen. When I arrived she wasn’t home. I think it’s because I forgot to phone. I went to Memphis to see the King. When I got there he wasn’t in. Someone said the King was dead. But I’m sure he was just asleep in his bed. I flew to Berlin to see the wall, But when I got there, there was nothing at all. Just the Brandenburg Gates big and bold. I’ll search again before I get old. When I went to see the Pope. My luck was out, I felt

  When someone comes up with a cure for insomnia, they’ll make a fortune. However, until then us night crawlers will continue to be driven mad by the sound of the ticking clock. Two AM  Two in the morning, It’s quiet ‘round here. Two in the morning, There’s no one to hear. Two in the morning, I’ll not make a peep, Two in the morning, I wish I could sleep.   Two in the morning, The clock moves so slow. Two in the morning, Some memories won’t go. Two in the morning, There are secrets I keep. Two in the morning, I wish I could sleep.   Two in the