‘The Circus’ by Enri Vilmos

The band struck up for the comical clowns!
They all sported wigs, red noses, and frowns
And from painted mouths uttered sad cries.
Then the fools threw water and custard pies
In riotous ribaldry: mad, bad, and bold!
The laughter and fun began to unfold;
The children giggled; a vast sea of smiles,
Lucy, and Hanna, and big brother, Giles.

Up above a man swung from a trapeze,
Elegant motion – a leaf in the breeze!
The crowd was silent: a moment to share
High-flying antics with thrills but beware
Of the danger in the nail-biting show:
A truth the artiste must already know?

The magician with a strange box of tricks:
“Hey Presto!” Rabbits, piglets, doves and chicks.
Then a lady in a gown and silk scarf
“Before your very eyes” is sawn in half!

The horses galloped, the lions roared loud;
The ringmaster stood up, regal and proud;
Acrobats stacked high on top of each other:
A pyramid built in a brave manoeuver!
The madcap army in baggy pajamas
Slipped on the skins of sticky bananas,
But danced so sprightly on coconut shells
In elf-toed shoes to the sound of silver bells!

Featured Image: “Isaac van Amburgh and his Animals” by Sir Edwin Landseer