LPiA Nov9

[Tiger the Lion]

Let's Pretend it's April - Nov. 9

Rules: Write a poem for LPiA on the topic or form described. Each poem should appear as a separate reply to this thread. The goal is to, at the end of the month have written 30 poems for the month of November. 


Topic : Write a poem about or inspired by the circus.
Form : Any 
Line requirements: Eight or more

Feel free to reply with comments or kudos as you wish. 

Questions?

[RiverNotch]

You think Jesus would have won
double the multitudes he fed
if he'd blessed the fish to grow
both arms and legs, grab spears and nets,
and shed each other's blood for sport?
You think Jesus wants your stage
and your faceless, electric praise
just because it draws a crowd
that cheers his holy mysteries
as if they were mere magic?
And just outside your whitewashed walls,
the niggers bleed, the trannies starve.

[CRNDLSM]

Run off and join the circus
It will be so fun they said
At least better than college
Where I couldn't leave my bed
Or living in the forest
Wild berries as my bread
I'm best off in the circus
One slip and I'll be dead.

[TranquillityBase]

He sits behind a small platform
and puts his troupe, 
imported fleas 
(10 cents a flea to 
to ship stewards steaming in 
from the Mediterranean),
through six acts:
Through magnifying glasses
spectators watch the fleas
dance, juggle, walk a tightrope,
and operate a carrousel.
Harnessed by a thin gold wire,
the climax is two fleas dragging 
tiny chariots in a mock race.
So eager to please they are,
they wear their legs off
in a few days. 

[dukealien]

Essence of Circus


What makes a circus?
Is it rings
three or some other number
constant frantic music
constantly changing acts
dangers of aerialists
corny gags of clowns
big tents raised
by patient strength of elephants
trained lions
smell of animals and sawdust
yearly impermanence
tradition?

Each of these
but none essential–
see, what made the show, kid
was the audience
now it’s not you
and it’s gone.

[Tiger the Lion]

She Drove a Fiat

The Twentieth Annual Rotary Club Circus
was to take place 
at the same arena
where twice a week
for four years
my Mom took me
for 5am hockey practice. 

On the day of the event
she backed into her usual spot
against the advice
of the Bristol board placards
and got herself double-parked
behind two tons of African elephant.

We missed the circus
and I never played hockey again.

[Mark A Becker]

The School Kite Festival

It was windy last Friday
and that was a good thing,
because we in the fifth
had remembered our string.

After classes let out
near the stop for the bus,
the teachers came running
when they heard a great fuss.

All the little ones screamed
as they ran with their packs,
that puffed up and billowed
like kites on their backs.

Then us guys in the fifth
called the “outside invaders”,
we hooked up our strings
and flew some first graders.

Took a sudden burst to catch up, but I think I'm on track. I got way busy and missed the first week or so. Sorry if the thread looks outta chronological order.

[Tiger the Lion]

The School Kite Festival

It was windy last Friday
and that was a good thing,
because we in the fifth
had remembered our string.

After classes let out
near the stop for the bus,
the teachers came running
when they heard a great fuss.

All the little ones screamed
as they ran with their packs,
that puffed up and billowed
like kites on their backs.

Then us guys in the fifth
called the “outside invaders”,
we hooked up our strings
and flew some first graders.

Took a sudden burst to catch up, but I think I'm on track.  I got way busy and missed the first week or so. Sorry if the thread looks outta chronological order.

Perfectly acceptable. I'm trying to do the same thing, as time allows.