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| Open Poetry #49 |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana 
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And oldie but hopefully a goodie . . . They brought him in before the show started, A tiny, frail thing secreted in a wheelchair. We'd been told, the sword swallower and Tiny Tim, Bare-back Riders, Ringmaster and the Clowns. As the tent began to fill I watched his eyes The hawkers of candy and popcorn his delight. Eventually, everything was set; it was Showtime, Lights were doused, spotlight shone on Ringmaster. A three-ring circus had come to this child's town, A child God saw fit to take from this world, After punishing him with agony untold, He'd chase this chaste child to the cold earth below. When they told him a circus was coming to town, Oh, how he begged and pleaded, please let me go. Doctors were consulted, medicine upgraded, How could they refuse this child this last request? He squealed at the lady bareback rider, His eyes opened wide at the sword swallower, As the Ringmaster regaled him with tales of daring, Tiny Tim perched on his shoulder and made faces. But it was we clowns, not the flying acrobats, Nor the bearded lady who chased the ape man. It was we clowns made him shriek the loudest, We clowns, we outdid ourselves on that night. Our antics and slapstick had him in stitches, He clapped his tiny hands over and over. There was a feeling going round inside that tent, An impression that a miracle was due. We went on longer than any show before, Each trying to outdo the other performers. The show was over, and no more could be done, We all stood and watched as they wheeled him away. Vibrations in the air, no one could sleep that night, Waited for the daybreak, the miracle we'd hear, We were still in our circus attire when she came, His mother, saying, he died happy last night. No one could look that woman in the eye, I, and the rest looked for a place to cry. ©May 3, 2011 / Jerry Pat Bolton ~*~ When they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~ |
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| © Copyright 2015 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Pete_W Member Posts 185 Scotland (UK) |
Great poem! Nice story with much feeling. Thanks Pete |
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Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
Charming bittersweet story my friend. It is an oldie but a goodie! ~L |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Thanks Pete, your thoughts are appreciated . . . ~*~ When they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~ |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
I thank you for your contribution and thoughts concerning my poem, Lori. ~*~ When they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~ |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Excellent. I do not remember reading it the first time. Some things should be re-posted and this is one of them . Jo |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Thank you so much, Jo, for expressing your thoughts which caused a smile to crease my face. ~*~ When they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~ |
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jjote Senior Member
since 2002-12-25
Posts 1088Ontario, Canada |
This one's worth reposting Jerry, a tale of a child's courage and clowns who care. |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
I welcome your thinking on my little poem, jjote. I'm smiling . . . ~*~ When they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~ |
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Ticklefingers Senior Member Posts 710 Louisiana |
Well then JerryPat, after going up and down again (geographically speaking of course) for a time, it was refreshing indeed to come upon this gem of yours. It takes me back to my growing years in Chicago and the 'Shriner's Circus' at the Amphitheater, which was butted up next to the 'aromatic' stockyards. Emmett Kelly was the only clown whose name I could remember until 'Bozo'. Now they're still the most prominent names I can recall. They used to say 'everybody loves a clown', but they've been depicted as an evil entity since Stephen King's fiction and the terrible reality of Gacy. Splendid writing JerryPat! 88's friend She told me "play one for your supper Danny and maybe you'll get breakfast". |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Thank you, Ticklefingers. ~*~ When they give you ruled paper write sideways. ~*~ |
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