Ringmaster of an Empty Big Top

"The elephant went rogue,” is what the journalist wrote,

“Inciting fear in the hearts of the populace!”

What they failed to explain was the pachyderm’s pain

And how tired she was of being abused.

It was no sudden thing; she just left the ring.

But let’s face it, her needs were always second to yours.

Did you think your chains were what bound her?

 

The barkers have all scarpered with the day’s receipts

While the monkeys played keep-away on the flying trapeze,

ignoring the ringmaster’s orders with the greatest of ease.

And the clowns in their car, the drunken little lechers,

Carried off the lion tamer’s wife

while the lion made a nosh of the tamer’s entrails.

The cages are empty; the geeks have all flown.

And the ringmaster sits in the spotlight alone.