mister pulcinella

a precedent...

devoid
of the oxygen
fingers provide
you wait
in timorous
impotence
for that
  beaklike snout
  nasal whine
to rise

still
masked
disarmed
for
now

you're
  Vasilache
  Kasper
  Polichinelle
  Jan Klaassen
  Mister Punch

you're many things
  vicious
  violent
  crafty
an open secret
  a misogynist
  and drunk

who would guess
your career
in children's
entertainment?