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
Copyright © Sam Kauffman | Year Posted 2020
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