Da ta dudda duda da tut tut (circus music) by richard lynn livesay

 rings of wedding bands surround sad circus songs

imprinted and impressed like buds of garlic thongs

where three ringed circus clowns and acrobats belong

as poets sway and pray before they jump into the fray

with sweet, angelic words that best behave and print the way

to turtle doves that coo and fly thru hoops of fire before they lay

big dancing bears doth bare embarrassed grins of furious furs

and horses prance in sawdust circles spinning hardened blurs

while barking dogs do flips before the calliope peeps and purrs

the midway Ferris wheel spins like a cotton-candy whirling lake

of barkers barking hurried chances to see the three-headed snake

in walking crowds of bumping, laughing strangers half awake

elephants trumpet, giraffes peer as lions and tigers roar and call

and once again or maybe ten we ride the rollercoaster ‘s free-fall

as kupie-dolls smile and teddy bears hang on the wall of a stall

throw pennies at plates, crunch caramel apples and guess my weight

to the barns of blue ribbons full of pies and pigs, cows and baked cake

then wander around, where did I park, I’m tired, its dark, goodness sake

the big-top folds as a train whistles near, the animals caged and fed

the clowns clear their face, tight ropes in place and I’m already in bed

dreaming of spinning in the air from a trapeze, feathers on my head

life is a circus of horror and delight, laughter and fright, an assorted sight

a midway of barkers, ringmasters and gawkers, peanuts and prizes and light

is it too a surreal diversion in our eternal journey before our soul takes flight?