Contemplating.

Contemplating.
Wayzata, Minnesota

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Mag 118

THE MAG  



MAG 118

The Circus With the Yellow Clown - 1967  Marc Chagall




PAST THE VERGE

Rue du Fangas
Is where She remains
from atop a tower tall
and window dark
sold her elephants
and quit the circus.

His first act of tears
spilled over lips
sliding down a white, grief-stricken
sad open face
that stared into the crowd.

Behind him, the three-ring circus
rang on, looking through
trapeze artists in cosmic gowns
and how absurd a chicken at the circus
cackling into the crowd.

Hope smashed beyond repair
would his painted smile
fool this crowd?
A fixed crushing loneliness
of tight-rope, anguish
as she, wild with fury
while he a hazy blur of despair

 closed the circus.






Link to Magpie Tales
picture prompt
blog by Tess Kincaid

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

it's good a circus that had elephants is now closed. too bad she sold and elephants and did not have them sent to a safe and happy sanctuary.


show's about to begin

Brian Miller said...

awww...i feel for the poor clown, having lost his love there seems to be little reason to continue the circus...what would it be without joy...

Anonymous said...

Good poem here, almost like the tragedy and romance.

Stafford Ray said...

I felt the anguish in your poem, anguish that must have been felt around the world as circuses first shrank, selling off their animals and then eventually giving up and closing, circuses with long histories of entertaining children of all ages.

kaykuala said...

It's just sad. There was a Brazilian circus once here which closed shop. The animals they left behind were pathetic. 'The circus is coming to town' is a thing of the past. Great write Karen!

Hank

Leovi said...

Delicate sadness of your poem. regards.

Kodjo Deynoo said...

There is an under lining message here, that rimgs a bell to the wise

Sueann said...

How sad ands tragic! It moved me
Hugs
SueAnn

Myrna R. said...

Lovely writing about a sad situation. You captured the emotions of having to let go so well. I'm not a big circus fan, yet I felt the sadness.

Tarang Sinha said...

Nice composition!:)

Unknown said...

Giving up one's hopes and dreams is a tragedy, where the silver lining is hard to find. Your poem expresses that anguish so very well. Thank you for sharing this, Karen. Your work is very expressive.

christopher said...

Several felt like giving you a hug. Me too.

Susan Anderson said...

The one thing we can be sure of is change, right?

No matter what the venue, time eventually seems to close it down...or morph it into a new arena.

NIcely done.

=)

21 Wits said...

Christopher- Thanks, hugs are wonderful!

21 Wits said...

Sue - you are absolutely right about that, every second, it just never know sometimes!

21 Wits said...

Kodjo, Absolutely there is!

Other Mary said...

Excellent metaphor.

Helena said...

Must be hard that final close. Behind a painted smile indeed! Fabulous write.

Helen said...

I am old enough to remember the days when 'the circus' came to town every year! Fascinating, thrilling ... those were the days.

sage said...

Nice writing. Lately, when I think of circuses, I think of "Water for Elephants." My new post is in Sagecoveredhills--posted on Saturday-- http://sagecoveredhills.blogspot.com/2012/05/friday-morning-of-fishing-and-afternoon.html#comment-form

Jinksy said...

Whatever happened to 'On with the show?' :)

Silent Otto said...

I had an image of a trapeze girl falling from a high wire come to mind, it spelled the end of the circus when she died. I love being sad, thanks .

Rek Sesh said...

They say a clown laughter hides a lifetime of tears and you brought it out so well in this evocative piece.
Animals were at times badly treated by their owners but are they off to a better place...hard to say.

Tess Kincaid said...

Especially nice last line...

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Sad but excellent.

Anna :o]

Anonymous said...

that's sad. we should never give up. where do we go if we give up?