Between Bruises & Blooms

The funny man
always knows too much.

That is why
he keeps laughing.

He has seen
what people become
when nobody is watching.

He knows
institutions have teeth.

He knows
power rarely admits
when it is hungry.

So he makes jokes
about conspiracies,
government files,
aliens,
politicians,

anything
to keep the room laughing
long enough
that nobody notices

how tired his eyes are.

Some men wear armor.

Some carry guns.

Some build walls
around everything soft.

He learned
to sharpen sadness
into wit.

Turn grief
into sarcasm.

Make the punchline
land first

so nothing else
gets close enough
to hurt.

Everyone laughs.

And the funny man
smiles,

because once again

nobody asked
what the joke
was hiding.