Humouresque Poem by Kevin Parkin

Damn him, for being happy.
Damn his sense of humour!

Those who laugh have no place in our world
where they are regarded
with suspicion and patronising shrugs.
With their unfailing sense of
the ridiculous
they must not disturb or intrude
upon the placid mediocrity
of the 'long-faced' society.
Laughter makes them nervous
and makes them wonder what
they've been missing.
Damn him, they say as they watch
the clown perform his self-deprecating
routines with obvious delight.
Damn him and his sense of humour
and despatch him with haste
to the nearest sanatorium
where he can be treated as
mentally insane.