Dedicated to Edward Hopper

They’re drinking on a patio surrounded by a marble banister
itself surrounded by the sea.  Japanese lanterns pulse light into the scene. 

A man in a tux is drinking wine while looking over his companion’s shoulder 
at a clown with five red stripes painted in irregular patterns down his face. 

A flapper girl in heavy rouge is looking down her nose at the clown.
She is leaning back against the marble banister to flatter her silhouette,

but neither the captain nor the sailor are paying her any attention.
A cigarette hangs from the clown‘s mouth.  His red hat rests on the table.  


© 2008 by Gary Lehmann. All rights reserved.