Every summer Silver's circus comes to our town at a time when the numbers of visiting holiday makers and locals are at their zenith.
They stay for about a month over summer drawing crowds from all across the peninsula. Then suddenly, they are gone-off to their next location.
I have been inside the bigtop. Here is my poem to these annual circus visitors. I enjoyed the opportunity to indulge in a little wordplay...
When The Circus Left Town
When the circus left town
And the tent was folded away
-The clowns cried
The trapeze artist struggled to come to grips with the matter
The fire eater contacted an old flame
In search of a little warmth
While the man they called the human cannonball
Left with undue haste
As if shot from a -
For parts unknown
The jugglers
Couldn’t handle their despair
And all the while
The ringmaster
Walked in endless circles
Intent on being stoic
But still talking in a decidedly loud voice
To anyone who would lend him an ear.
©Alan j Wright
It is once again Poetry Friday and our host this time is Heidi Mordhurst at My Juicy Little Universe. Heidi's post centres on bringing to our attention a number of poems written and composed by kids. The poems help to remind us that the future of our planet belongs to these, our youngest poets.
Great wordplay, Alan. I especially like the caliber of the human cannonball...bada boom! ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks Bridget. Well played you.
DeleteWonderful, Alan! The right words in all the right places.
ReplyDeleteThe poet in all of us hopes this is where our words land, Rose. Thank you.
DeleteAlan, I have never know you to write withOUT indulging in a little wordplay! This is very fun and clever and reverses the trope of "when the circus comes to town." The fire eater!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your insightful observations, Heidi. You have alerted me to a totally unplanned reverse trope. I am indeed a wordplayer...
DeleteEach one's a smile, Alan, but my favorite is the flamethrower, with a history! Now I wonder about the lion tamer? They must love staying about a month!
ReplyDeletethank you, Linda. i left the lion tamer out as they are not part of our current circus offerings. For the circus to stay for a month shows it must be a lucrative location.
DeleteAlan, what a fun concept and great execution! I thoroughly enjoyed your poem – from tent to ringmaster. I wish you would write a whole circus collection.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tracey. I haven't thought about a circus collection to be honest , but I do have another poem about the juggler. Glad you liked the poem.
DeleteThis is Janice. I liked how you visited each character in the circus and put us in touch with their mourning, ending with the ringleader missing his audience.
ReplyDeleteThank you Janice. They were all sad to leave in the end.
DeletePun-master, too?? Very fun, Alan. I feel as though a circus leaving town is a great prompt to try. Keep you posted!
ReplyDeleteI have an honours degree in Dad Jokes. Patricia. Look forward to see where this prompting takes you...
DeleteI like your bittersweet take on this poem Alan, thanks for this new view that turns the tables a bit!
ReplyDeleteA bit of table turning is quite stimulating for we poets, Michelle. Glad you enjoyed the different take on things.
DeleteLove it! Wordplay, when done well like this is so satisfying! More poems of wordplay in our world, please. We all need to lighten up a little.
ReplyDeleteFor me wordplay has always been such fun to indulge in as a writer/poet. It has seeped into my writing persona and for this I remain ever grateful. I'm glad you feel favourably disposed towards wordplay, Linda. Like you, I believe it helps us lighten up a little.
DeleteYou have certainly captured the details of the circus packing up to leave...and it a way that makes me think everyone wants to stay.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy. Leaving is often a wrench...
DeleteAlan, what fun! You did have some word play fun. I love a great pun, and I enjoyed the way each character felt a little lost in the packing up. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed fun, Denise. I remain an avowed punster. Glad you like them.
DeleteIike it so much..thank you
ReplyDelete