The Fool does not scan perfectly as a poem because it is an "old English ballad" that should be sung, and it was written so that it may be sung without instrumental accompaniment, taking about 2 minutes and 55 seconds. It was written on June 28th, 1986 E.V. after a walk in the rain.
Here comes the foolish man walking in the rain
See how the laughing fool wisely masks his pain
Hear how the folks all call him quite insane
But he sees what they don't see - who is there to blame?Hi dum diddle doe,
What a funny show!
Hi dum diddle dee -
The fool you see is me.There by his cozy hearth sits Father Jones
Writing a sermon that forever drones
Of the great fool speaks he in doleful tones
While the fool in the rain - dances 'mongst the bones.Hi dum diddle doe,
What a funny show!
Hi dum diddle dee -
The fool you see is me.Knitting by her window sits old spinster Joan
Her only friend being a crippled cat of roan
Frowning at the fool while sitting all alone
As the fool makes a friend - with a pile of bone.Hi dum diddle doe,
What a funny show!
Hi dum diddle dee -
The fool you see is me.Sitting in the dark alone is old man farmer John
Who never showed love to his family now all gone
He hates the sound of laughter from the fool out on the lawn
But the fool loves life - laughing on and on.Hi dum diddle doe,
What a funny show!
Hi dum diddle dee -
The fool you see is me.There at the anvil works the burly village smith
Who drinks the night away - spending but a tithe
Grinning at the fool dressed in rags and lacking width
While the fool dances on - kings his kin and kith.Hi dum diddle doe,
What a funny show!
Hi dum diddle dee -
The fool you see is me.Leaning out the window is buxom Mary Jane
Who long ago decided love is but a pain
And now she sells that love for a little bit of gain
While the fool never stops loving on and on again.Hi dum diddle doe,
What a funny show!
Hi dum diddle dee -
The fool you see is me.Behind the closed door you can hear Sheriff Flynn
Yelling at his wife as he caves her skull in
Thinking that gentleness is a fool's sin
As the fool walks by - saddened by the din.Hi dum diddle doe,
What a funny show!
Hi dum diddle dee -
The fool you see is me.There with his knife - works the butcher Tom
Who never showed anger and always sang a psalm
Cheerfully he works with his child's blood on his palm
And the fool walks by - disdaining his alms.Hi dum diddle doe,
What a funny show!
Hi dum diddle dee -
The fool you see is me.There goes the foolish man walking in the rain
See how this purest fool wisely makes his pain
Look to his eyes and you'll see he's truly sane
And we ask once more - who is there to blame?Hi dum diddle doe,
What a funny show!
Hi dum diddle dee -
The fools you see are ye.