The Day the Circus Came to Town
a poem by Jan Wenzel
The ringmaster shouted for all his worth
welcome to The Greatest Show on Earth
the day the circus came to town.
Spectators clapped as lions roared,
elephants danced, tigers jumped, and horses pranced.
Clowns with painted smiles
chased each other up the aisles.
The tightrope walker tipped his hat
as the daring young man on the flying trapeze
flew overhead with the greatest of ease.
Dorothy, carrying an umbrella in case of rain,
sat her children atop crowded bleachers,
great for viewing special features.
The calliope tooted Good Old Summertime
as acrobats cartwheeled across the floor
while the crowd roared for more.
Third shift over, Henry entered the tent
with a rabbit foot keychain for luck
right before things went amok.
Lady Luck, overtired and overworked,
stayed home and rested in bed,
unaware lives would hang by a thread
the day the circus came to town.
The audience thought the smoke
was just a joke--until someone
yelled FIRE and people began to choke.
Then Hell threw open his metal gates
and a mother heard children scream,
each one sounded like her boy.
Weary Willie, hearing the shrieks,
vainly threw water at the flames,
as white paint rolled down his cheeks.
Animal cages blocked escape
imprisoning those seated behind them
lions, tigers, and bears oh my God
lions, tigers, and bears oh my God
Eight minutes; a lifetime of sorrow.
A broken umbrella and a rabbit’s foot lay
midst smoldering ashes and disarray
the day the circus came to town.
welcome to The Greatest Show on Earth
the day the circus came to town.
Spectators clapped as lions roared,
elephants danced, tigers jumped, and horses pranced.
Clowns with painted smiles
chased each other up the aisles.
The tightrope walker tipped his hat
as the daring young man on the flying trapeze
flew overhead with the greatest of ease.
Dorothy, carrying an umbrella in case of rain,
sat her children atop crowded bleachers,
great for viewing special features.
The calliope tooted Good Old Summertime
as acrobats cartwheeled across the floor
while the crowd roared for more.
Third shift over, Henry entered the tent
with a rabbit foot keychain for luck
right before things went amok.
Lady Luck, overtired and overworked,
stayed home and rested in bed,
unaware lives would hang by a thread
the day the circus came to town.
The audience thought the smoke
was just a joke--until someone
yelled FIRE and people began to choke.
Then Hell threw open his metal gates
and a mother heard children scream,
each one sounded like her boy.
Weary Willie, hearing the shrieks,
vainly threw water at the flames,
as white paint rolled down his cheeks.
Animal cages blocked escape
imprisoning those seated behind them
lions, tigers, and bears oh my God
lions, tigers, and bears oh my God
Eight minutes; a lifetime of sorrow.
A broken umbrella and a rabbit’s foot lay
midst smoldering ashes and disarray
the day the circus came to town.
