THE SPELL

The master carny in charge

watches his mirage

take shape

in the Dust Bowl town.

The Big Top grows taut and high,

is stretched in every direction

as the human curiosities

tug at the canvas seams.

The dry, cracked earth,

the dust storms, are gone. 

The spell is cast.

The Greatest Show On Earth 

is all the eye can see. Culpability 

rids itself of responsibility.

And all are awed and watching

while thirst and hunger 

are in a dream dreaming 

and truth is nothing more 

than a red dust 

caking on the tongue.