His wife Pearl Bond wrote this poem about him:
PERFORMER
(J.G.E.)
The circus performer waits
in the wings the daring young man
has aged his body gnarled & thin
his movements still listen
to a remembered music,
he doesn't complete anything
afraid he'll miss his cue,
he doesn't close the lid on the coffee
jar. he lets the faucet dribble,
if he could he'd wear one shoe
any gesture after the first one
isn't worth repeating
unless it's a dignified bow.
stage presence replaced his wits
he has a routine of gestures clowns
when the coffee jar falls from the lid,
turns his pockets inside out
for money to pay the water bill.
His life is "nothing now" after comedy
on high wires he used to play
a drunk who lost his trousers
balancing on a trapeze,
flying netless over rhinestone
glare & always the hoop-la music
timing his innermost flow.
