The circus was in town last week.
There were jugglers and acrobats
a bearded fat lady
a thin man with tattoos
a woman who sold spider webs
a gap-toothed giant in a baseball uniform.
He rode around in a little car
and handed out fortune cookies to kids.
There were plenty of things to do -
rides, cotton candy, candy apples
and goldfish in tumblers.
The goldfish recited nursery rhymes
to the tune of a tuba
suspended in mid-air
by the wave of a magician's wand.
Even the Siamese twins brightened
at the thought of someone's hand
being quicker than the eye.
The elephants giggled
and rode the Ferris wheel
around and around.
Everyone guessed everyone else's weight.
There were lines a mile long
for the fortune teller
who used an enormous deck of cards
to tell fortunes.
She had only one good eye
and wore a bandana.
She spoke with an accent.
It was hard to understand her.
In the evening, fireworks lit up the sky.
We could see ourselves in the Fun House mirrors.
A sword swallower handed out
free passes to a midnight show
called Midnight with the Clowns.
It was fun while it lasted.
