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Clapham Junction

April 29, 2012
By Quidnunc BRONZE, Chester, Other
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Quidnunc BRONZE, Chester, Other
2 articles 0 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
'Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.' - Oscar Wilde

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From two o' clock until half past two he stands
At Clapham Junction in the grey Autumn rain
An audience which swells with each new train
Surrounding him; they laugh and clap their hands
Throwing green flowers, jeering as they fall
At the feet of this broken hearted clown
Once on his pedestal now fallen down
To the pillories where pariahs crawl.
The great performer destined to entertain
Now causes amusement that nought can exceed
A tragedy so mean as to induce mirth
What a dreadful thing to mock a soul in pain
To abhor a man for what was born at birth
Centre-stage in chains - entertainment indeed.

© Matt D., St Peters, MO

The author's comments:
I wrote this poem about the British poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, who was imprisoned and persecuted for homosexuality in 1895.
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