Originally written in June 2024. Turned out to be my top poem of the year.

We Don’t Miss The Circus

What do you mean
“you miss the circus”?
It’s already here

It’s here,
happening now
All around us

We are both
the main acts
and the audience

of the modern-day
“greatest and wildest
show on Earth”

How fun,
How funny
this clown show!

How stupid,
how stupendous,
how stupefying,

how lurid,
how sad
this show!

The Ringling Bros,
long retired,
would’ve had nothin’ on us!

Clowns—goofy and creepy
ones to mention—
clamoring for attention

Silly monkeys
clamping and jumping-
acting the fool

Crazy acrobats
flip flopping,
doing insane tricks

Many of us juggling
with fire, putting ourselves on
tightrope situations

So many things going on
Where, oh where
and what to zoom in on?

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