Once in a theatre comic ‘tween acts I pondered to see On a column sculptured Wide and comic The grinning mask of comedy And broad and wild in satyr-glee The grinning face of comedy Ah, said I, face merry and comic There is happiness in thee Few faces like thine Wide-mouth’d and comic Oh, grinning face of comedy Boisterously wrinkled, ugly and free The grinning mask of comedy Worn, hysterical, mad, unfree Woe-twisted face of comedy Worn, hysterical, mad, unfree Woe-twisted face of comedy Worn, hysterical, mad, unfree Woe-wisted face of comedy Worn, hysterical, mad, unfree Woe-wisted face of comedy Twisted face of comedy Twisted face