Never planned to join the circus,
although there is a hereditary tendency.
My Uncle Bob ran away to the circus,
several times. But he always came back.
Never planned to join the circus,
but what a circus we’re living in now!
Twenty-four-seven news cycle,
clown leading buffoons under the big top.
Never planned to join the circus,
but it’s tempting to become an escape artist.
I’d lose myself in romance novels and Netflix,
or any kind of my own-made cocoon.
Uncle Bob, if you’re anywhere out there,
somewhere in the cosmos,
help us find our way back home again.
Just like you always did.
Kim is hosting Tuesday Poetics at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets around the globe. She asks us to write a poem “that starts with a surprising hook, which can be one to three lines, but must develop into a fully-fledged poem.”
A bit of explanation: in a few years, I’ll become an octogenarian. I actually did have an Uncle Bob, who every time his wife became pregnant, ran away to the circus. Absolutely true – he had four children so he ran away four times! But he always came back- well before they were born. He was a wonderful uncle and as my childhood memories recall, had a lot of fun with his kids.
PS: here in the U.S., this is no time for any of us to be escape artists. It’s time to speak out, stand up, and resist!
lillian the home poet 
Such a circus going on!
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You well and truly hooked me with your opening lines, Lill, and I love that your poem is based on a true story. I agree that the US is a circus these days. It seems that’s all we hear and read about. I felt the despair in the plea for help in the final lines.
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What a delightful poem and backstory, Lillian. I love it. The current circus… not so much!
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We are living in a circus–but it’s a horrifying one!
That’s so funny about your Uncle Bob. I’ve heard it as an expression, “running away to the circus,” but I never knew of anyone who did it for real!
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What a chaotic and dysfunctional circus it is. Yes, escape to Netflix and do not listen to the news!
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This is incredibly potent, Lil! I agree, it is a horrifying situation.
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Once it was bread and circuses, but I have a feeling that it will be less bread now.
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