Circus Choka

CIRCUS CHOKA a circus in town — the guileless excitement of tiger and elephant crowd clowns in painted face — ginger-grin under one’s frown bitterness under one’s smile the crows on high wire — bods arrayed in black sequins with wings of a wizened swan a flop from the top — she slips from the silken rope dismayed as onlookers clap the show must go on — a conation of cattle finding one’s place in the whole removal of mask after the crowds drift away — balm cold cream on blistered face 10/21/2018