Susan Hawthorne #316 Thalia Muse of comedy

it's hard to be funny

when Thalia abandons you

but each of us has to get up

draw on inner reserves

and make one more joke

Aristophanes managed it

and you can too    bring on

actors and instead of high

boots make them wear socks

dress them in rustic outfits

put a shepherd's crook in

their hands – I know more than

enough about droving sheep

to laugh at myself – then she

can start her bucolic verses

accompanied by comedic

flourishes a few stereotypes

here and there won't go astray

put a buffoon at the centre

and his air-head wife

she can parrot some phrases

give the quiet one a trumpet

to blow away sadness

don't worry there will be

a happy ending now sing

along with me it's simple

tiotiotiotinx sing again

the bird never tires calling

sing blow that trumpet

recite the verse and be happy