Homework WE 17/10/16 - Remembering Robin

[Shelley Hansen]

Well, Maureen - I certainly agree with David that these prompts led to dark places! I toyed with several ideas, then happened to read some information about the late, great Robin Williams ... which led me down my final path for this fortnight.

REMEMBERING ROBIN
(c) Shelley Hansen 12/10/16

His technique was immaculate, though often quite bizarre -
he used his clowning skill to make us laugh;
and when he died it shocked the world, and made us realise
the sum of what we knew was less than half.

Inexorable sadness lurked beneath the face of fun -
we saw a glimpse of pathos now and then,
created in a character that graced the silver screen
then slipped behind the comic mask again.

A solitary child of absent parents, he was shy;
all through long afternoons he was alone.
The endless duplication of the days saw little change
as he grew used to playing on his own.

The need to be accepted, to be loved for who he was
persisted through the years of sudden fame;
and through the rocky patches, no one guessed the strength it took
to don that mask and play the social game.

Depression is more dangerous than we might understand.
We hear the voice, but cannot read the heart.
We all keep up appearances, present a public smile,
ashamed lest someone see us fall apart.

But let us look behind the mask, and hear the cry for help,
and take the time to listen and to share;
for sometimes those who gladden us are weeping deep inside
and need to hear us simply say ... we care!

[Maureen K Clifford]

Well done Shelley - you made great use of the prompts with this poem - the world is indeed a sadder place with his passing.

[David Campbell]

A very fitting tribute, Shelley, with an important message and a brilliant approach to the prompts.

Cheers
David

[Shelley Hansen]

Thank you so much Maureen and David!

I agree Maureen - his death robbed the world of a great talent. He was the embodiment of what a true clown should be ... in marked contrast to the sinister "street clowns" currently terrorising people. They are but an ugly travesty.

David, I think the message is important too - sadly, there are so many people going through the hidden torment of depression. Too often we lose them to this insidious illness.

Regards
Shelley

[Catherine Lee]

A really beautiful tribute Shelley. And how true it is the we 'hear the voice but cannot read the heart' - it is so important to be sensitive to what's going on with people. Obscure is half of all that lies behind one suffering human face - I can't remember if this was Shakespeare or someone else, but it's true regardless!

[Shelley Hansen]

Thank you Catherine!

That is a lovely quote - but I can't help you out with the author. In fact, I asked Mr Google and he didn't know either! I can get quotes with some of those words in them, but not that exact phrase (or anything just like it)!

Maybe this is a mystery we can all share in solving!!

Cheers
Shelley

[Catherine Lee]

I'll look it up in my books when I get home Shelley - it's one I've remembered since childhood and always thought so sad and lovely at the same time...could have sworn it was Shakespeare but if so it would come up on Google surely...I will let you know! x