The Travelling Fair
-THE TRAVELLING FAIR-
WHEN AUTUMN LEAVES COME TUMBLING DOWN
THE TRAVELLING FAIR GROUND COMES TO TOWN
ON RATTLING CARTS, RED, GREEN AND BLUE
DOWN COBBLED STREETS IT ROLLS ON THROUGH
MEN PITCH THEIR BILLOWY CANVAS TENTS
ON VILLAGE COMMONS FREE OF RENT
SOME JOURNEY IN WOOD CARAVANS
WITH UNTAMED ROMANIES AND THEIR CLANS
AND SOON THEY PAINT A VIBRANT SCENE
WITH COXCOMBES, CLOWNS AND HARLEQUINS
BEARDED LADIES , DWARVES ,TRAPEZE
JUNGLE LIONS , CHIMPANZEES
THERE`S MANY ACTS TO CATCH THE EYE
SEVERAL TAKE PLACE WAY UP HIGH
WE`LL START WITH THOSE NEARER THE GROUND
LIKE BARMY BERTY AND HIS CLOWNS
THEY LEAP AROUND IN FLOPPY SHOES
BIG RED NOSE AND TROUSERS LOOSE
FLUFFY WIGS LIKE POWDER PUFFS
SPOTTED SHIRTS WITH RAGGED CUFFS
THEY FLAP THEIR EARS AND ROLL THEIR EYES
MAKE RUDE NOISES, VULGAR CRIES
TOSS CANDY CANES IN TO THE SKY
TO EAGER INFANTS STANDING BY
THE GREAT LORENZO DRESSED IN RED
TOP HAT TILTED ON HIS HEAD
BEGINS THE EVENINGS' MANY ACTS
HIS FIERCE AND BRUTAL WHIP HE CRACKS
FRANK WILSONS' IN THE LIONS DEN
HE TAMES WILD BRUTUS , PEG AND FEN
AND STICKS HIS HEAD IN BRUTUS' MOUTH
THE ANXIOUS CROWD ALL SCREAM AND SHOUT
THEN SIX PINK POODLES COME TO LIGHT
IN FRILLY SKIRTS AND BALLET TIGHTS
THEY DANCE TO SWAN LAKE ON THE FLOOR
AND TIP TOE ON THEIR TINY PAWS
THEN A BALANCING ACT APPEARS
THE BROTHERS GRIMM WITH FLOWING BEARDS
THEY LEAP AND PRANCE WITHOUT A CARE
SOMERSAULTING THROUGH THE AIR
IN DIAMOND PATTERNED BODY SUITS
PROUD HARLEQUINS STRUM THEIR LUTES
SOME WALK A TIGHT ROPE WAY UP HIGH
JUGGLING SKITTLES IN THE SKY
LORENZO CALLS AN INTERVAL
AND SMILING DWARVES ATTEMPT TO SELL
RICH TOFFEE APPLES SWEET TO LICK
PINK CANDY FLOSS AND LIQUORICE STICKS
OUTSIDE THE BIG TOP CIRCUS TENT
THERE`S OTHER COLOURFUL EVENTS
THREE BEARDED MAIDENS COMB THEIR HAIR
WHILE MANY PEOPLE STAND AND STARE
MADAME ZELDA ROSALEE
READS TAROT CARDS AND LEAVES OF TEA
PEERS IN TO HER CRYSTAL BALL
FORETELLING STRANGERS DARK AND TALL
MEANWHILE A CAROUSEL SPINS ROUND
TO MUSIC WITH A HAUNTING SOUND
AND STICKY HANDS HOLD ON TIGHT
TO SPIRALLING PONIES PAINTED BRIGHT
WILD MEN WRESTLE IN THE MUD
SPITTING TEETH AND SHEDDING BLOOD
AS BAWDY PUNTERS CHEER THEM ON
THE CIRCUS BELL BEGINS TO DONG
WHILE RANJIT`S ELEPHANTS THUNDER ON
CHARLIE`S CHIMP GOES ON THE RUN
HE FREES HIMSELF FROM BERTY`S CARE
AND MAKES HIS WAY TO BRUTUS' LAIR
AND HERE HE DOES UNLOCK THE DOOR
BUT WITH ONE SWEEP OF BRUTUS`PAW
HE HURRIES SCREACHING IN THE RING
STIRRING UP A FRIGHTFUL DIN
HE LEAPS UP HIGH ON THE TRAPEZE
SWINGS AND CLAPS AND BENDS HIS KNEES
HE`S NOT A NATURAL ACROBAT
BUT LANDS WITH EASE ON ELEPHANT BACK
THEN FEARSOME BRUTUS AND HIS PRIDE
ESCAPE THEIR CAGE AND OFF THEY STRIDE
TO HUNT FOR PREY AND TASTY THINGS
THEY JOIN THE OTHERS IN THE RING
THEY SPY THE POODLES PINK AND SMALL
THINK THIS MUST BE AN EASY CALL
AND POWERFUL PEG WITH ONE SWIFT BITE
SWALLOWS FE FE AND HER TIGHTS
BUT CHAMP THE CHIMP HAS GAINED HIS STRENGHTH
TO BE A CLOWN IS HIS INTENT
HE GRABS BERTS POM POM FROM HIS CROWN
AND PULLS POOR CHARLIE`S TROUSERS DOWN
WITH RED NOSE SQUASHED UPON HIS FACE
HE MIMICS BERTY AND HIS MATES
THROWS PALES OF WATER IN THE CROWD
AND BARES HIS BOTTOM FEELING PROUD
HE SHOWS HIS TEETH WITH SHAMELESS GRIN
STICKS OUT HIS TONGUE AND PULLS IT IN
STEALS MAJOR`S MONOCLE FROM HIS NOSE
AND WADDLES UP THE TIGHT WALK ROPE
THEN BRAVE FRANK WILSON RUNS ON STAGE
AND GOADS THE LIONS IN THEIR CAGE
WITH BAMBOO CANE HE TAPS PEGS HIND
AND OUT POPS FE FE FROM BEHIND
SHE STANDS UP ON HER SHAKING PAWS
AND SKIPS WITH HASTE TO MONSIEUR CLAUDE
HER TU TU`S RIPPED AND TORN IN TWO
SHE`S LOST HER LITTLE BALLET SHOES
THE AUDIENCE LAUGH APPLAUD AND SHOUT
TO SEE POOR LITTLE FE FE OUT
THEY THINK THIS IS A SKILFUL ACT
WHERE CHIMP AND POODLE MAKE A PACT
AND SO THE CIRCUS NIGHT GOES ON
WITH AMIR`S TIGERS FROM CEYLON
TWO HEADED DAMES FROM SOUTH BAHRAIN
SEVERAL FIGHTING BEARS IN CHAINS
WHILE MEN ON STILTS WAVE GOODNIGHT
THE CHILDREN LEAVE IN SHEER DELIGHT
TO TELL OF LIONS WILD AND RARE
POODLES CHIMPS AND TRAVELLING FAIRS
