L Milton Hankins | + Follow Poet |
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The Circus Is Coming To Town

Excitement explodes with anticipation today,
Colorful flyers say the circus is coming to town
With animal acts, clowns, and music so gay.

Soon the big top will be going up, a holiday
Only the most disgruntled will wear a frown,
Excitement explodes with anticipation today.

We can hardly wait for sounds of the midway,
Streets come alive with performers renown
With animal acts, clowns, and music so gay.

With the circus comes dreams of running away
It is not a time for anyone to be feeling down,
Excitement explodes with anticipation today.

Inside the tent the band will swing and sway,
Aerial acts, jugglers, and a midget knockdown
With animal acts, clowns, and music so gay.

The barker always takes time to have his say
A lady on an elephant in a lovely satin gown
Excitement explodes with anticipation today,
With animal acts, clowns, and music so gay. 

Written May 31, 2022

Copyright © L Milton Hankins | Year Posted 2022

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Caren Krutsinger Date: 6/2/2022 4:00:00 AM My daddy told me when he was about twelve he thought about running away with the circus; they paid well - in peanuts, cracker jacks and cotton candy and free shows when he and his friends skipped school to help set the tents up. "With animal acts, clowns, and music so gay. With the circus comes dreams of running away" Daddy would have loved this one Hank. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/2/2022 10:01:00 AM Oh, I remember those days, too. I'm afraid they are long gone...days when a boy could dream of joining the circus. I'm not sure circuses exist now. Your daddy seems like a neat guy. I'll be he would've.

Indiana Shaw Date: 6/1/2022 9:31:00 AM This is so good, Milt's, you can almost smell it . . . ; ) Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/1/2022 9:56:00 AM Thanks, Indiana. You know, now that you mention it, the circus did have a unique smell. I had forgotten about that.

Jeff Connelly Date: 6/1/2022 4:59:00 AM L Milton colorful imagery abounds so in this poem THAT SO I FIND your choice of the villanelle poetic form the PERFECT form for which to express the renaissance fair atmosphere that always surrounded such true events. It was ALWAYS the poster that proceded such an EVENT that sent a child's mind into a world of the IMAGINARIUM of LETS SAY Dr Parnassus OR the TRUE inspired lyrics of the song "Being for the Benefit of Mister Kite. IT was those likes that the youth inside of ALL of us LIKED...THANKS Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 6/1/2022 7:51:00 AM Jeff, it was a pleasure writing the poem, and I thank you for your thoughtful and insightful response to it. Your comment was much appreciated.

Gershon Wolf Date: 5/31/2022 8:14:00 PM From the land of 'Used to Be,' we now bring you an ancient production once known as a circus... Today we have 3-ring politics 24/7. :) Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 5/31/2022 8:23:00 PM That is true, gw, but unfortunately 3-ring politics has too many clowns. And clowns can be scary, you know.

Tom Cunningham Date: 5/31/2022 12:21:00 PM Sadly they are in decline and not as popular they used to be. Animal rights people were always protesting and it put a lot of people off. Tom Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 5/31/2022 12:48:00 PM True. I have read some rather horrifying stories about how animals were treated in some circuses, but I'm not sure that warranted doing away with circuses. Sometimes we have to temper the good and the bad, I think.

Marco Chies Date: 5/31/2022 11:30:00 AM when I was a child, we lived in a small country town. the arrival of the circus brought exactly this excitement so well described by you. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 5/31/2022 11:57:00 AM "Those were the days, my friend." I look so fondly back on the good days of my childhood. I was born and raised in the mountains, far from the city, so anything new in the vicinity brought excitement. Yes, we were easily excited!

Sam Kauffman Date: 5/31/2022 11:19:00 AM What wonderful memories your words bring back Milt - the joy and excitement of a child waiting for the circus! Delightful! Wonderfully crafted anticipation. Login to Reply L Milton Hankins Date: 5/31/2022 11:27:00 AM Thanks so much, Sam. I used to love them and look forward to them. I haven't been to a circus in years now. I'm not even sure they exist now. I know there has been some uproar about the treatment of animals. IDK.