When the traveling circus
Stops and is in town
It's really not fair
One is soon to realize
That underneath love's
big top circus tent

With the ring master's pronouncement
Over screams of the crowd
Brass band playing on
Having missed a catch, truly
Missing that moment in time

After falling down from
Spotlighted great heights in
Love's high wire flying trapeze
Fallen, crumbled, broken,
Critical, ones living on
In dire, screaming, need

Do not always jump directly
To the head of the triage line,
For repair of broken parts
(Unlike, under any medic's tent,
Where even an enemy would!)

And if actually go on surviving
The long fall amongst elephants
Jugglers, lions, tigers and such
Then joining the clown troupe
Expected to cause laughter
With painted on, really sad faces

©  2017 Jim Davis