runaway circus

with rapt attention in our
mesmerized eyes, one of
three rings come alive, as
the fire eater takes flame
in his mouth, tongue to
tongue, swallowing &
smiles as it burns down
inside in the pause for effect
as we hold our breath

then
FWOOOSH,
blows it back onto the torch
as the crowd erupts, cheering
waving glo sticks & hollering

forgotten the fire eater lay
dormant in the silent recesses of
my mind, find-ing his flicker
to fan when i sit to ponder
wishing i too could swallow
this hollow flame, but i blew
it too, only different & perhaps
i should run away, join the circus.

though, i'd fit better with
the clowns, cause these
words are my tears, n' tween
my ears Pagliaci & Smokey
play the tune in the grey matter room
and i can't get that stupid
song to stop, all i hear is

the tears of a clown
da, da, da, bada ba ba ba ba

and now, ina aftermath n'
the ash of a bad patch o life
really it ain't no pass/fail
class, turn the frown upside
down, n'  right side up
the crown, clown don't let it
slip right passed you, fool,
hum the tune.

da, da, da, bada ba ba ba ba
da, da, da, bada ba ba ba ba