opening to Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) icons

Olga Orozco, from Torn: Engravings of Insomnia; "Far Away, From My Hill,"

Anne Michaels, from her novel titled "Held," originally published in 2003

Anne Michaels, from her novel titled "Held," originally published in 2003

Anne Michaels, from her novel titled "Held," originally published in 2003

Gregory Orr, from Orpheus & Eurydice: A Lyric Sequence, originally published in 2001

Marina Tsvetaeva, from a diary entry featured in Earthly Signs Moscow Diaries, 1917-1922

Anne Michaels, from her novel titled "Held," originally published in 2003

The curtain’s slowly falling down.

The show is over; no applause.

I see no smiles, they only frown

They want me back the way I was.

Back on the scene? For an encore?

But I’m so tired of pretending…

I just can’t bear it no more;

I’m sure there’s no better ending.

I want this paint to be removed,

I want to show my real face…

I see they deeply disapproved

Of me for taking Joker’s place.

They want the curtain up once more

They want their hero back on stage;

But I must end this inner war

I must break down this mental cage…

I thought that it was freedom called

But strangely I felt unfree…

My mask is gone; the crowd’s appalled

They never want the real me…

-by @lissasinclair for Arthur

P. S. I will always accept you no matter who you are. Always 🖤