When the circus comes to town...

Image courtesy of Hearing Voices

The March Challenge, in honor of the fact that 'on March 28, 1881, “The Greatest Show on Earth,” also known as the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, was formed,' wanted writers to write about the circus.  I wrote a Monotetra about it:

Ringside

Trapeze artists fly through the air -

and look!  Is that a dancing bear?

And elephants!  Oh this I swear:

my love affair, my love affair

with circuses is still with me

since earliest of memory.

They come to town?  I want to see

as devotee, as devotee

what’s under Big Top.  Clowns and tricks

do capture interest: they transfix

while jugglers juggle balls and sticks.

I get my kicks.  I get my kicks.

I’ve often wondered at each show

if I would have the guts to go

and run off with them, but…you know…

I can’t, although…I can’t, although…

it’s fun to dream, but audience

is where I’m meant to be.  Makes sense,

since I’ll still get my fill of tents

without suspense; without suspense.

If I were meant to walk into

a cage of lions (my debut?)

I fear the lions might well chew

more than my shoe, more than my shoe.

So here’s to sitting in my seat.

I get to see it all, complete.

I’ll cheer to each and every feat.

My three-ringed treat!  My three-ringed treat!

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