The Clown's Prayer is a poem or prayer that comedians of various sorts use for inspiration. There have been several poems that have gone by that name.
Author unknown
The original author of this poem is unknown. There are several variations on this poem.
Chris Farley
Christopher Crosby Farley (February 15, 1964 – December 18, 1997) was an American actor and comedian. He was a member of Chicago's Second City Theatre and later a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'' for fiv ...
(from ''
Saturday Night Live
''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...
'' and ''
Tommy Boy
''Tommy Boy'' is a 1995 American buddy comedy film directed by Peter Segal, written by Bonnie and Terry Turner, produced by Lorne Michaels, and starring soon-to-be former ''Saturday Night Live'' castmates and close friends Chris Farley and D ...
)'' was known to have carried this prayer with him in his wallet.
It commonly includes the following four verses:
As I stumble through this life,
help me to create more laughter than tears,
dispense more happiness than gloom,
spread more cheer than despair.
Never let me become so indifferent,
that I will fail to see the wonders in the eyes of a child,
or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged.
Never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people,
make them happy, and forget momentarily,
all the unpleasantness in their lives.
And in my final moment,
may I hear You whisper:
"When you made My people smile,
you made Me smile."
Occasionally the following verse is inserted between the third and fourth verses above:
Never let me acquire success to the point that
I discontinue calling on my Creator in the hour of need,
Acknowledging and thanking Him in the hour of plenty.
Clowns International
Clowns International hosts a service every year on the first Sunday in February at
The Clowns' Church in London, and they recite a version of the Clown's Prayer then.
Walter Grogan
This version was written by
Walter Grogan
Walter may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Walter (name), including a list of people and fictional and mythical characters with the given name or surname
* Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–19 ...
and published in ''
The Pall Mall Magazine
''The Pall Mall Magazine'' was a monthly British literary magazine published between 1893 and 1914. Begun by William Waldorf Astor as an offshoot of ''The Pall Mall Gazette'', the magazine included poetry, short stories, serialized fiction, and ...
'' in 1907.
Lord, I am poor, I have no gift
Meet for Thy shrine;
My life is spent in joke and jest,
So empty, vain, e'en at its best,
This life of mine.
But, Lord, beneath my mirthful face
I hide a tear,
And when the crowd laugh at the fair
They seem to gibe at my despair
And mock my fear.
Lord, I am poor save in this wise:
A child have I,
And as I joke the best I may,
He, uncomplaining fades away
And soon must die.
Lord, thou hast many in thy home,
I only one;
Think, Lord, a jester's life is sad,
Change not "he has" into "he had," --
Grant me my son.
See also
*
Christian comedy
Christian comedy is a subgenre of comedy that is aimed toward a Christian audience. The performances are typically held on church grounds or at off-site, church-sponsored venues.
The material often contains Christian references, although this is ...
*
Genesius of Rome
Genesius of Rome is a legendary Christian saint, once a comedian and actor who had performed in plays that mocked Christianity. According to legend, while performing in a play that made fun of baptism, he had an experience on stage that convert ...
References
Clowning
Prayer
Poems
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