The Greatest Show On Earth

"Ladies and Gentlemen
Children of all ages,
Within this ring are wonders
You'll never find on stages!
Roll up! Roll Up!
The Carnival's superb!
Don't miss tonight's performance
It's really quite absurd!"

Beneath the stripy canvas
The wall of sanity,
Lions, elephants, horses too
Cared for in total inhumanity.
A spectacle! Entertainment!
We'd really like to see
Living creatures taunted,
Existing in cages, 'free'.

Contortionists crushing
Abusing all their bits,
Frontbending, backbending,
Dislocation, splits.
Awkward positions
For the joints, elbows, knees,
Flexibly painful
Against the box they squeeze.

Stare at the freaky sideshow,
Disfigured, deformed, disjointed,
We enjoy watching their suffering
Their bodies disappointed.
"That woman needs a shaver!"
Shouts the perfect little man,
Exploited for their ailments
The freak show has began.

Trapeze artists plunging
Falling like leaves through air,
Wingless birds flying
Feeling the wind through their hair,
Beware the dicey acrobats
As gravity they defy
But beware if one might slip
As you'll see a daredevil die.

Clowns clumsily gloomy
With their painted smiles,
White faced, red nosed,
And wacky hair styles!
Humiliating themselves,
Throwing custard pies,
Amusing the audience
Beneath their silent cries.