Midsummer Madness

It landed in the field one day and
Turned the grass to muck.
A garish nipple on the countryside;
Cherry, lemon, orange and cream

The promise of popcorn in the wind
Drew pilgrims from the nearby farms.
They buzzed and flapped in the gloomy air
Toward the flame of the gathering circus

Contortionists, harlequins, dwarfs and freaks
Invited them into the madness,
"Step right up and over the edge!"
Was the cry of the King of the ring.

No one was ever seen enter the tent;
No one was ever seen leave it

It will always be there,
In the back of my mind:

The colours, laughter and cries
And the rumour that when the fabric sank
The hippo was boiled in its tank.