The greatest show on earth

by the supermarket, Lynchburg, VA

'Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
Come be AmazED
we have not 3,
              not 4,
              but 6 rings
that go round n' round
           round n' round'
(the wheels on the bus go...)

'Music, please!' there's always a busker
or the universe would not be complete,
or at least
        a teen with their ear buds too loud
providing the beat - HISS/SQUEEK, stop
start/jerk(ily)

Take your seat, take your seat---
near the front---on OXYgen, she sits
eyes large behind bottle bottoms, but boys,
she's got stories & ain't afraid to use them, you'd think
she knew Harriet Tubman personally,
leading all them people to freedom

Sam, (says so on his shirt) a few seats back,
with a twitch, might be too much coffee or such,
reads the whole ride and feels each sentence,
just watch his face, the faces he makes, across the way,
underneath all those grocery bags is a person peeking out,
her kids--- the clowns---every circus has them & these
are acrobats, over/under benches, grabbing ankles
& squealing (perhaps i should not wiggle fingers
at them, encouraging) wicked grins, a haggard
chap in a stocking cap coughs wet & reeks
of his last five packs, in and out they spin,
one man that won't stop talking, but only to himself
or God, or maybe he is God, some fast, some slow,
but on and on the show must go---sideshow acts,
quirks and quacks

spit politics as if the elections not over,
spouting secession, where's the lion tamer
when you need them---& the two young lovers
in the back acting like we're not here
WE ARE!!! until our stop, that is & don't try
looking out the window, put your paper away
no 3G, 4G anGry birds---nONoNo
you'll miss---you'll mISS

THE GRRRRREATEST SHOW
        ON EARTH!

written for Poetry Jam