Circus
What was once wondrous
and filled me with joy
I now hold in disdain
Pretty white horses
Elephants and lions
I did not know their pain
As a child I was excited
by the music and fanfare
Such exotica to see
Now I am sickened and sad
at the treatment
they suffered for me
Memories are disingenuous
The circus once wore
a glorious crown
The public expressed outrage
Animal liberation
Send in the clowns
Christine Bolton – Poetry for Healing ©
In response to dVerse Poets Prompt Circus
Poetry For Healing 
“Send in the clowns” indeed. This is a metaphor for many things that loose their gloss as we gain knowledge.
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Isn’t that the truth! 😢
Thanks for reading.
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My pleasure
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at the treatment
they suffered for me
this hurts me too. your last stanza is so extraordinarily contrite
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Gina, I am truly saddened at the way humans have treated beautiful animals for their own profit. Slowly but surely it is becoming banned around the world. A little slow in the US unfortunately. 😢
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not only the US, less developed countries are no better, its shameful how we humans act
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Yes, that is so true 😢
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Thank you for this reminder. It works on more than one level for me – the obvious fact that animal acts are cruel, and then the deeper allusion to our realisation that things are not always as they seem.
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Yes Sara! How true that is!
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I am completely with you on this, Christine. I was never a circus fan and screamed in terror the first and only time I visited one as a child. Since then, I have been to more magical circuses like the Cirque du Soleil, which are more appealing with their skill and magic. But I still don’t like clowns!
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Yes Kim, Cirque du Soleil is so much more enjoyable. It’s stunning and beautiful. I’m happy to see a lot of countries banning animal use in circuses . Still a long way to go. Thanks for reading.
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I also pity the clowns… us laughing at their expense, maybe we should enjoy the acrobats and magicians… My joy from the past is mingled with shame…
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Yes, exactly. Thanks for reading.
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Let the clowns replace the animals.
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The end of an era for sure. Now that people are seeing beyond the glitz and glammer change is on the way. I wonder about the other circuses in society?? Well done in showing the shift from childhood fantasies to adult realities.
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So many magical moments of childhood become tarnished. sad but true. One wonders what became of the bearded lady and the tattooed man and the other members of the side shows. I, too, vote for the CIrque du Soleil! The harsh reality of the circus is well presented in your poem.
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Thank you …. yes! Actually where I live in Florida was the where John Ringling and his circus used to be based for the winter season. He was I big man in his day in the 1920s and there are many reminders of his time here. His home, museum, art museum etc. so to some extent the city relies on the circus history for tourism. There is still a small circus here. (One horse and no other animals).
Ringling’s home was gaudy and his art collection is reflective of someone with money but no taste!
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Luckily we are more sensitive to animals now. We’ll said. (K)
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Yes, thank goodness. Thanks for reading
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