where are the elephants

there are certain

times and places,

like when in wal-mart,

when it feels like the circus

is in town,

everyone looks just a little

bit odd,

a little out of sorts,

strange.

something about

their faces,

their physique, even 

their names,

have an exotic bent to them.

at any moment

you expect juggling to

break out.

or handstands,

or someone with fire

coming out

of their mouth.

every size and color of

the human species

appears

with blue or green hair.

fishing hooks

dangling from 

noses and ears.

they smell of cigars

and sawdust,

whiskey.

you look around wondering

where the elephants are.