the clown

the mc donald's clown laughs all the time
in yellow and red and black

he sits on the bench near the take-away counter
with his natural perpetual grin
with one arm stretched out on the back-rest

people sit on the bench
next to the friendly clown and get
their pictures clicked
the clown laughs
even in the pictures

it's impossible to believe
that his grin would stay on his face
& that he'd keep his arm stretched
on the bench back-rest
in the same friendly way
awaiting someone unknown
to sit beside him and pose

when the lights are gone late in the night
when no one's watching