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When The Circus Leaves Town -Poetry Friday

 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. 





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Comments

  1. Bridget Magee19 April 2024 at 19:57

    Great wordplay, Alan. I especially like the caliber of the human cannonball...bada boom! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rose Cappelli19 April 2024 at 21:19

    Wonderful, Alan! The right words in all the right places.

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    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright20 April 2024 at 16:13

      The poet in all of us hopes this is where our words land, Rose. Thank you.

      Delete
  3. Heidi Mordhorst19 April 2024 at 21:24

    Alan, 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!

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    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright20 April 2024 at 16:16

      Thank you for your insightful observations, Heidi. You have alerted me to a totally unplanned reverse trope. I am indeed a wordplayer...

      Delete
  4. Linda B19 April 2024 at 23:11

    Each 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!

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    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright20 April 2024 at 16:19

      thank 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.

      Delete
  5. Tracey Kiff-Judson19 April 2024 at 23:23

    Alan, 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.

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    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright20 April 2024 at 16:22

      Thanks, 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.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous21 April 2024 at 04:01

    This 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.

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    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright21 April 2024 at 11:08

      Thank you Janice. They were all sad to leave in the end.

      Delete
  7. Patricia Franz21 April 2024 at 08:47

    Pun-master, too?? Very fun, Alan. I feel as though a circus leaving town is a great prompt to try. Keep you posted!

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    1. Alan j Wright21 April 2024 at 11:09

      I have an honours degree in Dad Jokes. Patricia. Look forward to see where this prompting takes you...

      Delete
  8. Michelle Kogan21 April 2024 at 15:23

    I like your bittersweet take on this poem Alan, thanks for this new view that turns the tables a bit!

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    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright22 April 2024 at 14:13

      A bit of table turning is quite stimulating for we poets, Michelle. Glad you enjoyed the different take on things.

      Delete
  9. Linda Mitchell21 April 2024 at 20:25

    Love 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.

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    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright22 April 2024 at 14:18

      For 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.

      Delete
  10. Cathy22 April 2024 at 23:17

    You have certainly captured the details of the circus packing up to leave...and it a way that makes me think everyone wants to stay.

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  11. Denise Krebs23 April 2024 at 00:06

    Alan, 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!

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    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright26 April 2024 at 11:27

      It was indeed fun, Denise. I remain an avowed punster. Glad you like them.

      Delete
  12. Poetry Chronicles1 May 2024 at 19:46

    Iike it so much..thank you

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    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright6 May 2024 at 14:24

      My absolute pleasure. Thank you for your response.

      Delete

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