He spun a sugar-coated tale.
Bright lights and sequins,
adoring crowds.
Come join me and be a star!
So I went.
Believed that sweet talking ringleader . . .
and his beguiling eyes.
Spot lights fell on sawdust stages
again and again in tawdry towns.
Love is blind – too late I saw.
Following him, I lost my way.
He prances about, cajoles the crowd.
I traipse ’round makeshift bleachers
sans sequins, sans fame.
Get your cotton candy here!
I am the busker
for his spun-sugar tale.
Written for Tuesday Poetics at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets. Today Sarah hosts and wants us to go to the circus! Pub opens at 3:00 PM Boston time. Come join us!
lillian the home poet 
I like this tale, even the disappointment of the busker. You tell it well!
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Thanks – so glad you enjoyed! 🙂
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A great extended metaphor for disappointing relationships. Who hasn’t found themselves seduced by cotton candy, and then found it’s nothing but sugar and hot air? Great write, Lillian.
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This took me back to days when I sold soft drinks at our local race track – definitely not part of the dazzle.
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I really found the metaphor of what a relationship can be… in the end someone has to bring in the dough by selling what you can… and that man prancing about.
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Uh oh! That cotton candy can be misleading … so sweet, so quickly turning sticky!
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Nice lines: “Love is blind – too late I saw.
Following him, I lost my way.”
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A sparkling circus tale, with a metaphoric conclusion. In the 50’s running away to join the circus was still a viable dream.
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Lovely!
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Nicely done. I like this cautionary (spun-sugar) tale and metaphor about relationships.
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Smoke and mirrors, spangly tights and lost illusions. You caught a slice of life for many there, Lilian.
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This was really good. Thank you
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Oh, this is a very well done metaphor — I like the way you waded through the grimness of this relationship through clever phrases like “traipse ’round makeshift bleachers” and “spun sugar tale”.
-HA
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As much as this is probably metaphor for a relationship, in reality this was my first marriage, running away with the carnival and a new husband at 19 so I really related to your words…nicely penned.
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Aw, sad but interesting story you weave!
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Love this!
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A great lesson to be learned. Watch out for the slick smooth talking man. Nice work.
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I agree with Sarah – a great metaphor for a disappointing relationship or for being tempted by something or someone not as they seem. I love the phrase ‘spun-sugar tale’.
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Curious how we so often lose our way when in a relationship. I wonder what that’s all about.
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its the lure of attention that was this person’s fatal flaw, pink and fluffy can never be trusted!! loved the tale in the form of poetry
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A cautionary tale, indeed! I like the contrasts between anticipation and realization between the opening and closing stanzas.
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kaykuala
He spun a sugar-coated tale.
Brilliant opening Lillian when you matched it with the image of the top of the cotton candy. It felt like a letdown to be presented with entertainment amidst caged animals It was a joy for youngsters as the sensitivity of animal cruelty had not reached them yet.
Hank
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I really enjoyed your poem and can relate to that feeling of becoming the background support in some charismatic man’s circus.
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At first it looks promising with so much substance. But alas…
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circus and poem are so inter- twined, only artists can be part of both 🙂
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What a perfect ending and disappointing truth.
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In entertainment, deception is welcome, but not in relationships! (K)
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