A Monkey in Manhattan
This ape's thinking has evolved sufficiently to know that this is all there is.
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Cloony the Clown
I found this poem when I was training to teach in the 70’s and used it with various age groups. I used it as an example of empathy – because that’s what I think it’s about. That’s the beauty of art in all its forms, it means different things to different people. I can’t stand being told what I’m supposed to think or feel about a painting, film or piece of music.
I found an literary appraisal of Cloony the Clown on a forum, indicating the lines where alliteration, anaphora, hyperbole and consonance had be used. I prefer to think ‘simplicity is genius’ and it isn’t really necessary to de-construct a flower.
I’ll tell you the story of Cloony the Clown
Who worked in a circus that came through town
His shoes were too big and his hat was too small,
But he just wasn’t, just wasn’t funny at all.
He had a trombone to play loud silly tunes,
He had a green dog and a thousand balloons
He was floppy and sloppy and skinny and tall,
But he just wasn’t, just wasn’t funny at all.
And every time he did a trick
Everyone felt a little sick
And every time he told a joke,
Folks sighed as if their hearts were broke
And every time he lost a shoe,
Everyone looked awfully blue
And every time he stood on his head,
Everyone screamed, “Go back to bed!”
And every time he made a leap,
Everybody fell asleep
And every time he ate his tie,
Everyone began to cry.
And Cloony could not make any money
Simply because he was not funny.
Who worked in a circus that came through town
His shoes were too big and his hat was too small,
But he just wasn’t, just wasn’t funny at all.
He had a trombone to play loud silly tunes,
He had a green dog and a thousand balloons
He was floppy and sloppy and skinny and tall,
But he just wasn’t, just wasn’t funny at all.
And every time he did a trick
Everyone felt a little sick
And every time he told a joke,
Folks sighed as if their hearts were broke
And every time he lost a shoe,
Everyone looked awfully blue
And every time he stood on his head,
Everyone screamed, “Go back to bed!”
And every time he made a leap,
Everybody fell asleep
And every time he ate his tie,
Everyone began to cry.
And Cloony could not make any money
Simply because he was not funny.
Simply because he was not funny.
Simply because he was not funny.
One day he said, “I’ll tell this town
How it feels to be an unfunny clown.”
And he told them all why he looked so sad,
And he told them all why he felt so bad.
He told of Pain and Rain and Cold,
He told of Darkness in his soul,
And after he finished his tale of woe,
Did everyone cry? Oh no, no, no,
They laughed until they shook the trees
With “Hah-Hah-Hahs” and “Hee-Hee-Hees.”
They laughed with howls and yowls and shrieks,
They laughed all day, they laughed all week,
They laughed until they had a fit,
They laughed until their jackets split.
The laughter spread for miles around
To every city, every town,
Over mountains, ‘cross the sea,
From Saint Tropez to Mun San Nee.
And soon the whole world rang with laughter,
Lasting till forever after,
While Cloony stood in the circus tent,
With his head drooped low and his shoulders bent.
And he said,”THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT –
I’M FUNNY JUST BY ACCIDENT.”
And while the world laughed outside
Cloony the Clown sat down and cried.
How it feels to be an unfunny clown.”
And he told them all why he looked so sad,
And he told them all why he felt so bad.
He told of Pain and Rain and Cold,
He told of Darkness in his soul,
And after he finished his tale of woe,
Did everyone cry? Oh no, no, no,
They laughed until they shook the trees
With “Hah-Hah-Hahs” and “Hee-Hee-Hees.”
They laughed with howls and yowls and shrieks,
They laughed all day, they laughed all week,
They laughed until they had a fit,
They laughed until their jackets split.
The laughter spread for miles around
To every city, every town,
Over mountains, ‘cross the sea,
From Saint Tropez to Mun San Nee.
And soon the whole world rang with laughter,
Lasting till forever after,
While Cloony stood in the circus tent,
With his head drooped low and his shoulders bent.
And he said,”THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT –
I’M FUNNY JUST BY ACCIDENT.”
And while the world laughed outside
Cloony the Clown sat down and cried.
Shel Silverstein
A Monkey in Manhattan 