YES, WE ARE NEEDED

Juan de Dios Peza, (Mexico City 1852-1910) a Mexican poet and writer, wrote “To laugh while crying,”, a beautiful poem that my mother used to share with me in my youth. It describes a bit of the life of David Garrik (Hereford England 1717-1779) an English actor very famous for his quite hilarious performances.

Garrik was indeed an outstanding comedian, very well known for his ability to entertain his audience, make them laugh and happy. The poem describes a famous doctor who once received a new patient, suffering deep melancholy. The patient complaints were about a terrible illness that drove him into deep sadness. The doctor, trying to help, proposed him several remedies, including traveling, reading, a woman who could love him, riches and several more options to alleviate his sadness; finally, he prescribed the man seeing Garrik, the outstanding and famous comedian.

The patient response was beyond surprise, asking the doctor with great doubt about seeing Garrik to alleviate his sufferings. Finally, the man said to the doctor, “I am Garrik, change my prescription.”