The Crafter of Laughter

1.
he's a small-town man with a dark-brown tan
they call him a crafter of laughter
he says today you're sad 'n tomorrow's bad
there's laughter for sure day-after

2.
he walks with a crutch; he's out of touch
but he still has a tale to tell
doesn't mix as such or know you much
but he still wishes you well

3.
he's much abused and battered, bruised
still holds his head up high
he's not confused he doesn't feel 'used'
fails but he says he'll try

4.
without bed-sheets, he sleeps on streets
sings in the middle of the night
with smiles he greets all those he meets
and he makes all worries light

5.
he does not cry; but he looks at the sky
and he squints into the space
sometimes with a sigh he wipes his eye
and tells a story of his place

6.
he comes from the land of sun and sand
they have a small hut of straw
all lives are planned in lines on the hand
they haven't even heard of law

7.
there's fun and pain there's sun and rain
they sleep underneath the sky
they're a bit short of grain now and again
but they have enough to get by

8.
he came to the town 'n it burnt him brown
he yearned for money to earn
in a scowl 'n frown they turned him down
but he'd left to be 'someone'

9.
his dreams are gone but he still holds on
though he's a little withdrawn
through dusk 'n dawn his heart is strong
and he claims not all is gone

10.
it's just a phase in the games He plays
he's not yet filled to the brim
and then he says any one-of-these-days
providence may think of him

11.
'knows he will be great if it's in his fate
he's not looking to escape
he says he'll wait and it's never too late
to give your dreams a shape

12.
till then he's glad that it's not too bad
though he has no roof or rafter
he's half unclad and they call him mad
but he still has room for laughter