Sunday, January 11, 2009

167. SEMBLANCE BROTHERS CIRCUS RIDES IN

SEMBLANCE BROTHERS
CIRCUS RIDES IN

'No, no - nothing ever goes for nothing.'
The high-topped big-top rises every April
on the Canton town square.
Like a dream each time, the frizzy-haired
guy shows up with his papers, contract in
hand; going over this, going over that.
He reads, I swear, each sentence three times.
He reads it like he reads his life itself:
'This is the big time, boy, and you're sentenced
to die - see ain't no way out even if you try.
That's the point of this circus, crap and all,
when you come right down to it.'
-
Just then the game-horse whinnied,
and the elephants threw spit, and
Marnie, the high-wire girl,
fell right into my arms.

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