The marching bears hit all their notes,
the lion jumps through flaming hoops,
chimps ride their bikes in yellow coats,
the whip cracks and the trumpet toots.
The whip cracks, animal eyes leap,
an elephant strides, pitcher on his head,
dogs minuet with cautious feet.
We humans should be better bred.
So this was the great circus trip:
applause cascaded, just as planned,
an arm made longer by a whip
cast its sharp shadow on the sand.