before the show

you walk down
to where the circus
is setting up.
the big tents are in
place.
the elephants
grey and large
are being hosed down
in the shade.
the place
smells of straw
and cigars.
cotton candy and dung.
you see the workers
sitting half
dressed. half clowns,
half lion tamers,
ballerinas
slipping into gowns,
smoking cigarettes.
they are neither happy
or sad
as they sit in the sun
in their bare feet.
waiting for
the day to move into
night where they will
become who
they are paid to be.