Apocalyptic Dreams

 

We pulled up to the gate and paid for parking.

It was at that time of day

when the sun was laying his head down for the night,

but the moon had not yet taken her post.

 

“The circus has come to town.”

 

So we parked and walked up

and we walked through the turnstile

and we walked past the vendors

and we walked under the entrance with the sign that read,

 

“The World’s a Circus”

 

We found a seat in our designated section

and sat anticipating the freak show.

The popcorn was devoured,

by the time the ring master arrived.

 

“Ladies and Gentleman,”

 

he began, just like that,

and with a tilt to his hat and a bend at the waist,

he ushered in the procession of clowns.

“Ole,” we cried, holding our bellies in laughter.

 

“Cotton candy, silly straws, candy apples!”

 

the vendors hollered,

above the roar of the crowd.

The rest of the night went on much like that,

each freak show odder than the one that came before

 

“And now, the grand finale!”

 

The ring master bellowed,

followed by the hypnotic explosion

of fireworks, and band, and the roar of the crowd,

and the lights, and the screams, and the…

 

 

 

 

 

“Run!”

 

The ring master cried, in sinister delight,

Knowing resistance to be futile.

The circus was leaving town, and now

      The audience was the star of the show.

 

“Don’t look back!”

 

So we ran back under the sign that read,

“The World’s a Circus,”

And we ran past the vendors

And through the turnstiles.

 

“Amen, Come Lord Jesus!”

 

A wrinkled man wailed in religious rapture,

While others ran carrying their own skin,

And the lions chased the children,

And the acrobats spun their cartwheels.

 

“Woe is us!”

 

Cried the fat lady holding the child’s hand.

      While the jugglers tossed their pins

       And the tightrope walkers

       Teetered on pointed toes.

 

 

“It’s raining!”

 

Day had become night, and it was raining -

Raining shrapnel, and ash,

And the blood of bearded ladies.

And it was then that I heard through the fog

 

“Wake up!”