Cirkus
Night: her sable dome scattered with diamonds,
Fused my dust from a light year,
Squeezed me to her breast, sowed me with carbon,
Strung my warp across time
Gave me each a horse, sunrise and graveyard,
Told me only I was her;
Bid me face the east closed me in questions
Built the sky for my dawn . . .
Cleaned my feet of mud, followed the empty
Zebra ride to the cirkus,
Past a painted cage, spoke to the paybox
Glove which wrote on my tongue-
Pushed me down a slide to the arena,
Megaphonium fanfare.
In his cloak of words strode the ringmaster
Bid me join the parade . . .
Worship! cried the clown, I am a t.i.
Making bandsmen go clockwork,
See the slinky seal cirkus policeman;
Bareback ladies have fish.
Strongmen by his feet, plate-spinning statesman,
Acrobatically juggling-
Bids his tamers go quiet the tumblers
Lest the mirror stop turning . . .
Elephants forgot, force-fed on stale chalk,
Ate the floors of their cages.
Strongmen lost their hair, paybox collapsed and
Lions sharpened their teeth.
Gloves raced round the ring, stallions stampeded
Pandemonium seesaw . . .
I ran for the door, ringmasters shouted,
All the fun of the cirkus!
song performed by by King Crimson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
The Story Of The Sharp Tongue
with the repetitive sound of sighs and symmetrical silence
the tongue has become sharp and it stabs hearts
it breaks open what has been closed all along and hidden
birds start breaking out from cages
and feathers are left as memories which somehow the one who is left
empty takes it to his heart and becomes his pen
the lonely man writes
with blood from his bleeding heart stabbed by the sharpness of his own
past
the sound becomes even more demanding like routine that you cannot refuse
and somehow the silence becomes irregular, asymmetrical taking the shape
of a scream, which the tongue most sharpened now
slices into dust
and this reaches to the conclusion that no matter how sharp the tongue can be
it too shall in the end turn into
dust..............................
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Poetic Dance!
like a strife, he is in front of me
like a challenge, he always win off me
your words catching me like a punch
Me, poor of me! like a gentle kiss
Having in your double tongue the curse
he is the riper, brings the reaper to my heart
cold heart, ferocious, determinate
Took and shred my body, slashing my flesh
I was the clown, the war prize he lurking me
I gave the rhythm, the tune of the dance
he, the keeper of souls, the tower.
In a cage, tried to escape, he caught me
My words, without force
My intention running away
Dance of death to me
Dance of joy to him
What a terrible dance
I with my paws
him, lightness of feet
And the music slide over me
I just go follow by scent!
Who is the beast!
poem by Mirna Morgan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Mirror Mirror
Mirror mirror
You tell lies
Who put crows feet
Round my eyes?
Mirror mirror
Hanging there
Who put that grey
In my hair?
Mirror mirror
Is that me
Is that really
Me I see?
Mirror Mirror
Stop your fun
That's not me
That is my mum
Mirror mirror
Don't stare back
For it's bad luck
If you should crack
Mirror mirror
On days like these
When what I see
Doesn't please
Mirror mirror
My mood this day
Will ask you turn
The other way!
poem by Stevie Taite
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Church Of Women
A lie for a lie, but a truth for the truth
Church of women is made out of milk
Which their love turns to butter -er -er
Church of women will have you give praise
With a laugh, bark and stutter -er -er
Like us men like us men they are nothing like us men
Men have gargoyles round their hearts
Im on my knees but dancing
Want to worship at the church of women
Breathe em in until my head goes spinning around
Want to worship at the church
Let me worship at the church of women
Church of women is making donations of loving and giving -ing -ing
Church of women performing that miracle raising the living -ing -ing
Like us men like us men will they ever like us men?
Men have thorns around their minds
Im on my mountain preaching
Want to worship at the church of women
Breathe em in until my head goes spinning around
Want to worship at the church
Let me worship at the church of women
Lie for a lie, but a truth for the truth
Give em back their house: the walls, the doors, the floors and roof
And stop tryin to diet on the wafers and wine and submit were in control
Now lets put things right
Lets multiply the loves and kisses
til we have enough to love and eat forever
Want to worship at the church of women
I want to worship at the church of women now
Breathe em in until my head goes spinning around
Ill breathe em in until my head goes spinning round
Want to worship at the church
Let me worship at the church of women
Want to worship at the church of women
(repeat x3 and fade)
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mexican Sunrise
I was watching the sunrise
In Mexico when my horse died beneath me.
I was in Diez Coronas,
On the edge of a cliff,
With only my horse for company.
Stars were scattered across the
Palette of the sky,
Colored silver on indigo.
Past the edge of the cliff
Lay nothing but sandstone and a
Hundred feet of empty air.
My horse whickered and
Pawed the ground impatiently.
I could feel his muscles bulge and relax,
Eager to get on with our journey.
As the sky started to lighten,
I checked my pocket-watch:
Twenty-seven minutes past five.
Just a few more minutes.
Great Kiskadees awoke and
Started to sing from
Unseen nests in the few trees
Around me.
In the distance,
I heard the wildlife stirring,
Getting ready for the new day.
I didn’t even hear a warning growl.
I’ll never know if there was one.
With a feline-like snarl,
A brown and black blur
Snapped at my horse’s legs.
The horse reared,
It’s eyes wide with terror.
I struggled to get my feet
Out of the stirrups.
The bobcat turned back for my horse
And pounced.
I fell from my horse as
The bobcat dug into
Its throat.
I watched as my horse fell
With blood pouring from
Its neck,
His eyes white and wide,
The pupils rolling into his skull.
On my knees,
I reached down into
My leather holster,
Fingers wrapping around cold steel.
I pulled the Colt free,
Its chamber loaded with
Six chances of death,
Each encased in copper.
I cocked back the hammer,
Squeezed the trigger.
The bobcat fell back
From the force of the shot.
I got up and walked towards the dying animal.
It gave cries of pain,
Cries of agony.
“Mercy” is what those cries told me.
“End my suffering, ” they said.
So I did.
The bobcat’s head exploded
In blood and brains.
After it stopped twitching,
I grabbed my knife
And cut into the animal.
As the sun began to rise behind me
In the east,
I cut off the fur,
Gutted it for meat,
And wrenched its fang from the gumline.
Now,
Here I stand in Mexico
With people staring at me funny,
And no wonder.
I’m a gringo with a bobcat’s fang
Hanging around my neck,
Trying to sell a bit of bloodied fur.
But I don’t care.
I need the money.
I need another horse.
Circle Game
Yesterday a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star
Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like, when youre older, must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and dawn
Were captive on the carousel of time
We cant return we con only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game.
Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels thru the town
And they tell him,
Take your time, it wont be long now
Till you drag your feet to slow the circles down
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and dawn
Were captive on the carousel of time
We cant return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
So the years spin by and now the boy is twenty
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur
Coming true
Therell be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through.
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
Were captive on the carousel of time
We cant return, we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
song performed by by Joni Mitchell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Only When I Sleep
You're only just a dream boat
Sailing in my head
You swim my secret oceans
Of coral blue and red
Your smell is incense burning
Your touch is silken yet
It reaches through my skin
Moving from within
And clutches at my breast
But it's only when I sleep
See you in my dreams
Got me spinning round and round
Turning upside down
But I only hear you breathe
Somewhere in my sleep
Got me spinning round and round
Turning upside down
But it's only when I sleep
And when I wake from slumber
Your shadow's disappeared
Your breath is just a sea mist
Surrounding my body
I'm working through the daytime
But when it's time to rest
I'm lying in my bed
Listening to my breath
Falling from the edge
But it's only when I sleep
See you in my dreams
Got me spinning round and round
Turning upside down
But I only hear you breathe
Somewhere in my sleep
Got me spinning round and round
Turning upside down
But it's only when I sleep
But it's only when I sleep
It's reaching through my skin
Moving from within
And clutches at my breast
But it's only when I sleep
See you in my dreams
Got me spinning round and round
Turning upside down
But I only hear you breathe
But it's only when I sleep
Got me spinning round and round
Up to the sky
Where angels fly
I'll never die
Hawaiian high
song performed by by The Corrs from Talk On Corners
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Through the Metidja to Abd-El-Kadr
I
As I ride, as I ride,
With a full heart for my guide,
So its tide rocks my side,
As I ride, as I ride,
That, as I were double-eyed,
He, in whom our Tribes confide,
Is descried, ways untried
As I ride, as I ride.
II.
As I ride, as I ride
To our Chief and his Allied,
Who dares chide my heart's pride
As I ride, as I ride?
Or are witnesses denied—
Through the desert waste and wide
Do I glide unespied
As I ride, as I ride?
III.
As I ride, as I ride,
When an inner voice has cried,
The sands slide, nor abide
(As I ride, as I ride)
O'er each visioned homicide
That came vaunting (has he lied?)
To reside—where he died,
As I ride, as I ride.
IV.
As I ride, as I ride,
Ne'er has spur my swift horse plied,
Yet his hide, streaked and pied,
As I ride, as I ride,
Shows where sweat has sprung and dried,
—Zebra-footed, ostrich-thighed—
How has vied stride with stride
As I ride, as I ride!
V.
As I ride, as I ride,
Could I loose what Fate has tied,
Ere I pried, she should hide
(As I ride, as I ride)
All that's meant me—satisfied
When the Prophet and the Bride
Stop veins I'd have subside
As I ride, as I ride!
poem by Robert Browning from Cavalier Tunes (1842)
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Steppin In A Slide Zone
I took a ride in a limousine
I took a road Id never been
I met a stranger by the way
His coat was torn but his eyes were clear
Standing in a slide zone
I could be steppin in a slide zone
He told me where a river flows
He showed me how the apple grows
He told me of a magic stream
His face was worn but his eyes were clear
Standing in a slide zone
I could be steppin in a slide zone
Standing in a slide zone
I could be steppin through a time zone
He went to find a shooting star
Around the bend thats where they are
I went along just for the ride
Suddenly I began to glide
Standing in a slide zone
I could be steppin through a time zone
The air raced by there was no sound
We drifted high above the ground
And then said you know this place
And then a smile lit up his face
Standing in a slide zone
I could be steppin in a slide zone
Standing in a slide zone
I could be steppin through a time zone
I turned my head and looked below
And there was something there I know
Suddenly I began to fall
I looked around and tried to call
Standing in a slide zone
He had me steppin in a time zone
Standing in a slide zone
Falling through a time zone
Help me please I thought I said
Then something happened in my head
Music came from all around
And I knew what I had found
Standing in a slide zone
Falling through a time zone
Steppin in a slide zone
He had me falling through a time zone
song performed by by Moody Blues
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Blackout
Oh you, you walk on past
Your lips cut a smile on your face
Your scalding face
To the cage, to the cage
She was a beauty in a cage
Too, too high a price
To drink rotting wine from your hands
Your fearful hands
Get me to a doctors Ive been told
Someones back in town the chips are down
I just cut and blackout
Im under japanese influence
And my honours at stake
The weathers grim, ice on the cages
Me, Im robin hood and I puff on my cigarette
Panthers are steaming, stalking, screaming
If you dont stay tonight
I will take that plane tonight
Ive nothing to lose, nothing to gain
Ill kiss you in the rain
Kiss you in the rain
Kiss you in the rain
In the rain
Get me to the doctor
Get me off the streets (get some protection)
Get me on my feet (get some direction)
Hot air gets me into a blackout
Oh, get me off the streets
Get some protection
Oh get me on my feet (wo wo)
While the streets block off
Getting some skin exposure to the blackout (get some protection)
Get me on my feet (get some direction, wo-ooh!)
Oh get me on my feet
Get me off the streets (get some protection)
Get a second
Get wo wo
Yeah
Get a second ? breath on advice ?
And a second blow
Blackout
song performed by by David Bowie
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Circus Time
The 'Big Top' is so radiant with wide stripes of red and green,
The atmosphere is 'electric' and rousingly noisy at the scene,
Elephants are trumpeting, as if they want to say 'hello',
Crowds restlessly gathering, impatient to watch the show.
A hush descends around the 'ring' in such anticipation,
What's coming first, eager faces wide eyed with fascination,
Clowns tumbling into the limelight, how the people cheer,
Their costumes are extraordinary, so colourful and queer.
With antics so adorable, we have to all applaud,
Their comedy, and all their props, we just cannot be bored,
Their faces brightly painted, with red noses and red lips,
With outsize boots, they stomp around, shouting out their quips.
The trapeze artist is introduced, a girl in a sparkling robe,
Ascends into the vast tent top, suspended on a globe,
She gives a great perfomance as the audience, Oooohh! ! and Aaarrhh! ! ,
Every time they think that, she will not quite catch the bar.
With a gallop and a canter, white horses come prancing in, who
Will trot around with their riders doing tricks, by jumping through
Hoops, and skipping with a rope on a moving horse's back,
Each horse knowing what to do, when they hear the long whip crack.
Elephants are wonderful, as they go through their routines,
They really look contented, well that is how it seems, .
These amazingly gentle creatures, one cannot but admire,
The way they do just as they're told, they really do inspire.
The ringmaster in his red waistcoat, and shiny black top hat,
Keeps the show progressing, he's so jolly, round and fat,
With his moustache that's very smart, and his merry glinting eyes,
He has everybody 'spellbound' with each new and grand surprise.
Now the show is almost over, and the arena's all but filled,
With all the acts, that have performed, each one notably billled,
To appear at this famous 'Circus' and show us their expertise,
So come again next year, with your tent, Mr Circus owner, please!
poem by Ernestine Northover
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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In Love With A Clown
You know I care a lot
I gave you everything I got
The little that I have - yeah
Between the cigarettes and coke
I always find a joke
To make you smile
And sometimes when you are down
I will come around
To put your feet back on the ground - oh yeah
'cause you are in love with a clown
In love with a clown
Your mom is not my friend, she didnt like the band
But thats okay with me
And the money that I make, cant pay the china that I break
Thats okay with me
And I always spill with wine,
I never come in time
I forget to wash my feet
But I give you what you need
Life is upside down
'cause you are in love with a clown
In love with a clown
I never promised you diamonds and pearls
'cause I would lose them somewhere in the town
You searched so hard for the men of your dreams
And what is what you found
The love of a clown...
And I always spill with wine,
I never come in time
I forget to wash my feet
But I give you what you need
Life is upside down
'cause you are in love with a clown
song performed by by Fury In The Slaughterhouse
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Bond For Life
pacing back and forth
back and forth in the hallway
in my long beautiful white dress
waiting impatiently
for the clock to strike 7: 00pm
as the sun starts to set I know the time is near
the worry starts to show on my face
the questions start to run just as wildly
as a horse being let out of the round pin for the night
after a hard day of training
“do I really want to”
“am I ready”
“dose he really want to”
“am I making the right decision”
the door opens my sister and dad walks in
“are you sure you want to do this” cassie said with a questionable look on her face
“yes I am very sure I want to do this” I say as a tear of happiness rolls down my check
“well are you ready”my dad said with a sigh of relief that the time had finally came
“yes I am” I say with a nervus smile
As I walk through the beautiful meadow field with extravagant wild flowers
I become more and more nervus
then I see him standing there so handsome
his head held high
full of pride
with his beautiful blonde hair blowing in the genital wind
as I walk closer and closer to him
I become less and less nerves
the felling of relief
came over my body
as soon as I saw the ring barrier
coming my way
one ring says becca and bandit are bonded for life
the other
bandit and becca are bonded for life
they stop at my feet
I slipped to ring on my finger
and tied the other one to a saddle made
just for bandit’s grave
the meaning of that ring will only lay in my heart
no one else in this world will know the unique
meaning of the silver ring that lies on my finger
for it was only a piece of metal now it’s
a bond
a bond of a friend ship
a relationship that will last a life time
the bond for life
poem by Mrs. Cynosure
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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They told me it was the night
And that the door had to be closed
That it was the way it was
The way it should be
They told me
This was the land for you
You-lighter than a grain of soil
And heavier than air-
You are the water seal and you swim
They told me
The shot of the first dawn
Wasn't created for the seven mile steps
Or the wings for a horse
To overfly the day at the priceof the night
I said
Let it go
I said
Be silent
I said I just wanted
To sing
poem by Miroslava Odalovic
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Circus
You're unmasked of your innerly behaviour
Tamed to go around circular by order
Then to foot on a chair
Opened mouth tickled by ring master's hair
Reincarnate to soar higher
Juggling acrobatically on trapeze, a tight-roper
unicycling to hoop a hula-hooper
Finishing a touch of a horse rider
Finally to fall bumpy like a begging joker
poem by Indira Renganathan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Stop The World
All the worlds
A masquerade
Made up of fools
And philosophers
Were it to rain
On our charade,
All washes away,
Except for our true colors
If any people bothered
Looking for truth, please,
Stop the world
From spinning round
Instead we choose to follow
Footsteps of fools, please
Stop the world
From spinning round
If nothings new under the sun
For me and you
Wont somebody please...
Stop the world
Stop the world
I wanna get off
Stop the world
Stop the world
Where there is love
If we forget
Yesterday,
Were bound to repeat it
Tomorrow
Its not too late
To start today,
Better off safe,
Than sorry
Do unto those as you would
Do to yourselves, please,
Stop the world
From spinning round
We need more feet to walk
In one anothers shoes, please
Stop the world
From spinning round
Theres nothing new
Under the sun
For me and you,
Wont somebody please...
song performed by by Extreme
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Fisherman
At night
A man sat there drenched in the dull candle light
He sat there rod in hand
He wished that he might
Be able to catch a fish this night
He liked the pull the thrill the fight
How the fish thrashes on sensing death in sight
On this island so small there is no need for pity
A fisherman knows that killing is not pretty
But to keep money in the pocket
And a belly full of fish
A fisherman must cast out his line
So that someone can have there next dish
It was easy for him
The fisherman I mean
He always enjoyed this scene
Sitting at the edge of the dock
With his bucket, candle, rod, and radio clock
All he has to do is reel in from time to time
Just to check on his bait
And some people are impatient
But he liked the wait
The sea breeze on his face
The sound of crashing waves all over the place
His quiet canopy has fallen around him
The white noise of the ocean could always be broken on a whim
I think he heard us
Because he just shuddered as you caused all the fuss
“You! You think I am lonely, I thank you for your concern”
Turning and smiling his beard looking like a fern
He gnarls his teeth as if he just ate a leaf
“I am happy in this quiet, you can join me if you wish. Just keep quiet”!
“Or you’ll scare away all of my fish”
Written: November 30,2010
poem by Ryan Collins
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Dark Night
Night dark but your lies were darker
Night cruel but your love more crueler
Night all alone yet better than your absent minded with me
Night was the time i gave my whole to you
Night was the time you slapped my face
Night was the day you pushed me to the door.
Night was the time you abused me
Night was the time you slit my tongue
Night was the time the moon refuses to smile at us
Night was the time i lost you
Night was the time you left me all in the rain
Night was the time i cry you a river
Night under the tree you promise me your undying love
Night was the time you bid me goodbye
Night was the time you threw a stone into my glassy world.
poem by Blessing Ekpe
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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In-convenience
Very early in the morning we were woken from our sleep,
We were going on safari, being driven in a jeep,
We went out before our breakfast, we went out before sunrise,
We went out before the sleep had fully vanished from our eyes.
We had to dress quite quickly, and we went out in a rush,
And after we'd been driving through miles and miles of bush
For an hour or two (I have to say forgive the way I speak) ,
But - the roads were very bumpy - I was dying for a leak.
The driver stopped the jeep and kindly offered us a drink,
But it might have been more kind if he had only paused to think;
We had seen a herd of elephants, some vultures in the sky,
Several wildebeest and zebra, a hyena passing by,
Giraffes, a pair of ostriches, a buffalo or two,
And we'd taken lots of photographs (well, that's what tourists do) :
We had even seen some lions lazing underneath a tree,
But... we hadn't seen a toilet... and I really had to pee.
Beside a water-hole at last we found a pair of loos,
And I hurried to the gents', 'cause that's the one I have to use.
Yes, I went up to the gentlemen's, and pushed the door ajar,
But I didn't push it hard, and it didn't open far.
There was something in the way, you see. I did a double-take,
For it looked just like a tail, the last six inches of a snake.
I decided not to panic - I'm not that sort of bloke,
And it could have been a rubber one, left there for a joke -
So I pushed the door wide open, to be sure of no mistake,
And what should I clap eyes on but two yards of living snake!
... I closed the door, quite firmly, and went to tell the guide,
'I was going to the loo, but then I found a snake inside.'
He didn't quite believe me, but he went across to check.
- Not just a snake, a cobra! - 'Gosh, ' I thought, and 'Flipping Heck.'
For the snake looked very supple, and the snake looked very strong,
And if it would uncurl itself, the snake looked very long,
And a cobra's bite is savage, and a cobra's bite is quick,
And if that snake had bitten me, I'd be feeling rather sick.
'It might even be a spitter, judging by the size,
'So don't you go too close, and please be careful of your eyes.'
But I had to take a photograph, for that's what tourists do,
And, warily, I took a snap of the cobra in the loo.
The driver wrote a notice 'Danger, Big Big Snake Inside',
And the lady with the first-aid box took out of it with pride
A strip of sticking plaster to stick it to the door,
To tell anyone who came, there was a cobra on the floor.
By now the snake was moving, it was climbing up the wall;
It hid behind the cistern, and could not be seen at all;
It came down again, and wrapped itself around the waste-pipe neatly,
Then slithered right into the pan and disappeared completely.
Now I was on a mission to tell others what I'd seen,
But I was very conscious of the fact I'd Still Not Been!
So in that situation, though most times I wouldn't dare,
When I found the ladies' empty, I quickly popped in there.
So if you see a man who's coming from the ladies' loos,
Please don't jump to conclusions, he might have a good excuse,
- 'I went to spend a penny, for my need was quite intense,
'And I had to use the ladies' - there's a cobra in the gents'! '
poem by Paul Hansford
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Circus Clown
Suddenly from somewhere
A street urchin-
An untamed bird of the wider sky
Dropped down
Into the circus tent
Before him was unfurled
Scenes eerie….awesome! !
Roaring lions and tigers,
Gibbering baboons, caravans of camels,
Animal tamers and acrobats,
Artists balancing on poles
Swinging from bars to trapeziums
Pliant girls with plastic limbs
And pouting breasts,
Walking on tight ropes
A queer world
Peopled with beasts and men!
His face, painted white and red
In motley dress, he was arrayed
And a tall tapering cap, placed
On his forcibly tonsured head
He hardly knew what it all meant.
He heard the bells ringing
And it was time for the show
He was told
He would henceforth be a clown
And should make people laugh
A thousand sunsets passed him by
He forgot the familiar alleys of the streets
Lost sight of the endless pathways of the sky
In a world -
So populous- so empty,
He buried him
In the hidden caverns of himself
Nursing a hundred bruises
Inflicted by Time's sharp razors
Often he was reminded-
"You should make others laugh"
He did make people laugh
While a fountain of tears lay frozen
In the slivers of his broken heart! !
poem by Valsa George
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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