i did watch with daddy at the railroad tracks this morning

as the circus had their summer comings. daddy did keep a tight

hold on my hand and he did tell me again the ways of trains

while the circus people did roll their big wagons

off the flat cars.

they did have elephants pushing the wagons

and horses pulling.

all the circus people and animals

had knowings of the job they must do.

men and men with big hammerings.

tent poles did stand up so quick

and a cookhouse did nearly put itself together

with breakfast sizzling inside it

pancakes and fried eggs flipping

and that good breakfast smell filling the meadow

the same as is always in sara chickering’s kitchen.

by the time sara chickering did come to get me

the big tent did fill the meadow

and the smaller tents did look like spiderwebs

traced in raindrops.

sara chickering and i did rush to watch the parade pass by

on main street.

we did see lions and tigers,

hippos and kangaroos,

monkeys and zebras and bears,

and the beautiful ladies in their sparkly clothes,

and acrobats and tightrope walkers and clowns

who did make us laugh as they flopped past

in their big shoes

and i did tell sara chickering we must be bringing those clowns to

daddy

so he can give them better fittings for their feet.