Pages From John

Author: John Knetemann

  • a circus

    when a circus ends some say the clown dies

    many say it is the lion tamer that holds the prize

    the animals sit in cages backstage

    and the box office counts the page

    do clowns really die when the show is done

    or is there just a new act bringing some fun

    from a clown show to a strange mime show

    the honking horns lost their power to blow

    the producer makes it part of the plot

    the ring leader decides to give it a shot

    yet the crowd is unsure and at first isn’t amused

    the clown sits on the side a bit hurt and bruised

    he tries to sabotage but the fire drummers won’t have it

    the people are totally distracted by the ring leader’s outfit

    the children love it and the grown-ups are all upset and leaving

    cemented statues near the entrance don’t have a way of perceiving

  • The Necromancer

    Did you know there is a sorcerer there?

    One you befriended a long time ago.

    One that cracks the whip with regret to scare.

    Conjuring ghosts and monsters from below.

    The Necromancer promises power.

    Yet brings nothing but despair in his hour.

    You felt the motivating force at first.

    Everyone thought he was some great ole friend.

    But he was bringing out the complete worst.

    How will this quest of yours come to an end?

    Stay a sad slave to the Necromancer?

    Or will you find a more loving answer?

  • Freedom and Love: One and the Same

    We don’t have any enemies under the sun,

    Maybe just unkind family with insults or a gun.

    We are stranded on this blue dot together,

    And I want us to brave the stormy weather.

    I wish us children would finally understand and heal our past,

    And realize that countries, companies, and structures never really last.

    But we cling to our certainties being so very afraid,

    Imagining we win if we are the smartest or highest paid.

    You take nothing to the grave, not even your body,

    For the worms eat you up if you are good or naughty.

    Love is beyond all this, don’t you know?

    Or are you still putting on the masked clown show?

  • I Am the Villain

    The terrible day that I learned that I was, indeed, the dreadful villain,

    When Pink wasn’t well and they sent me, the surrogate band, as the fill-in.

    I was Sauron and poured all my malice, cruelty, and will to dominate all life,

    I was Anakin, and it was all unfair so I blamed it on my friend and wife.

    It was me, Scar, who told Simba to run far, far away and never come back,

    I don’t even remember when everything changed during the Fire Nation attack.

    It was many things that added up to fill Prince Zuko with pride and shame,

    And I remember the strange day I learned I was the antagonist to blame.

    It was the same day I learned that I was also the hero to save the day,

    When Aang, Frodo, and Simba finally came back to the world to play!

    It was time to tear down the Empire that I created to control my life,

    To finally heal the pain that was caused by a psychological knife.