The Greatest Show On Earth

The Greatest Show on Earth Mr. Pik lived alone, across our street - All the kids knew him, dressed up so neat; Mr. Pik loved the circus – every kind - Each year, in our mailbox, tickets, we’d find; So much excitement - growing every day - Circus, the topic, when we went to play. We watched the clock tick away afternoon - Finally night came - for us none too soon. Girls dressed in dresses - shoes - patent leather - Boys in bow ties - no matter the weather; Families scrunched in old station wagons - Sounding just like an asthmatic dragon; Seven miles from the big top we could taste Popcorn and peanuts, oh please, do make haste; Ladies and gentlemen, look here and see The ringmaster pointed us to ring three; First came the clowns with red funny noses Squirting the crowd – water from fake roses; Next, the acrobats riding sleek horses, Purples plumes on their heads – never off course; Lions and tigers - elephants, oh my - Animals exotic paraded by; Walkers on tightropes left us all breathless – Covered our eyes, watching never the less; Finally the last act – our hearts would seize - Daring young man on the flying trapeze; Sleepy eyes closing on the ride home - Night at the circus so like a poem; Rollicking, boisterous evening of mirth Mr. Pik’s gift – the greatest show on earth. Every year our neighbor, Mr. Pik - a widower - would treat the neighborhood to a night at the circus. I know thought has changed about having wild animals in the circus but in my childhood they were a part of the show. 5/2/20