circus chagrin

the crowd dispersed in floods of tears disappointed that the spectacle was over when madness resolved and sanity became restored the clown’s persona now unmasked make up made down for a grimace a silent scream half aborted in the arena masqueraded agony exchanged for a smirk at last the lions would not have to jump through hoops of unhinged fire snakes now willing to shed burnt skin participated in naked laughter and joy the stupid August survived the fall as he explored the autumn of life squashed a bit at first when he caught a trapeze artist who missed the net and disentangled the remains of the capture dazzled a skimpy dressed con artist removed daggers from her torso careful not to impale herself in the process of self-targeted remorse as poniards denuded the truth diabolo’s juggling halted in mid-air alluding to the illusion of impermanent time but even that would not pacify the spectators who felt dispossessed by their diabolical fare elephants trumpeted a final crescendo when the bears chased the circus director into submission pleading for mercy and regret but the fleas feasted on his disingenuous stutter outside the tent Tarot card readers indulged in hellish merriment proclaimed the end of the world testified to the power of Satan as the fool revealed himself for he had always been a wise jester when kids cried for ice cream and candy cotton wool fell from the eyes of their carers and salted caramel and strawberry flavours melted in the bright sunshine of liberation the show is not over until the lady bird sings black on red polka dots cherished their wings spanning the end of imprisoning entertainment dismayed and heavy-hearted the rabble roused from mischief imposed admitted defeat from pandemonium and had to find their own meaning of living