the carnival is free now, look out the window

as children

we used

to go to the carnival or to

the circus

to see the freaks.

the bearded

lady,

the illustrated man,

or the hunger

artist,

down to bare bones.

there was

the half man,

half woman, 

confused about what

they are

when born, and over

there,

someone being shot

out of a cannon, oh look,

someone's head

is in a lion's mouth.

and that girl,

look at all

the safety pins in

her eyebrows.

you had to pay to get in

to the carnival back then,

but now,

it's all free,

just look out your

window

and down to the mob

parading

on the street.