“The Circus,” by Albina Felski
blues with no bridges: burned middle
learning toxic lessons from the cradle
privileged take sun for granted on vacation
poor don’t notice it while scrambling to survive
privileged are blessed to have cozy nannies
poor learn a bottle soothes when it’s full
privileged own institutions that let them slide
poor, the face of crime, bludgeoned by laws
privileged don’t mourn for lack, they buy
poor mourn for losses via desperate acts
privileged and poor, each menaces to all
whose dreams destroy by different means
their vehicles of redemption just out of reach
that taunt and haunt them to the grave
Melissa is today’s host for dVerse’ Poetics Tuesday. Melissa says:
for today’s Poetics prompt, I’d like you to read the lyrics and listen to the song, “Folsom Prison Blues,” by Johnny Cash; then write a poem about whatever it evokes for you. You may write in any form, but I’d like you to keep your poem to twenty lines or less.
Tao Talk 
I like the way you used contrast between privileged and poor to build this poem, Lisa, and the way it begins with the alliterative ‘blues with no bridges’. These lines sum it up nicely:
‘privileged take sun for granted on vacation
poor don’t notice it while scrambling to survive’.
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Kim thanks much for the feedback.
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Oh, the poor, poor privileged…
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I wonder if Nero was weeping as he fiddled while Rome burned…
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That is so good Li :-) Those last lines, excellent! <3
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CA, thanks much <3
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It was ever so…I wonder if we can ever find a better way. (K)
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Johnny knew, and he was fearless in their faces. I hope we can, because this way is wearing me down. I’m reading a book right now about a woman who lived during the time when Mao came into power in China, and the similarities in that transition and what we’re seeing right now here are chilling.
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I love your take on the prompt Li and the comparisons of poor and priviledge. These lines particularly stood out…privileged and poor, each menaces to all
whose dreams destroy by different means… very much so. Great poem Li. :)
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Di, thank you very much. <3
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What a thoughtful, profound poem, Lisa…those last four lines really pack a punch!
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Lynn, thank you. I get so tired of being part of a circus and wonder just which part of it I am day by day.
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A wonderfully reflective and insightful poem – Jae
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Jae thank you very much.
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Wow, Li! This is powerful. I also like how you contrast the two and bring them together. One no better than the other when left to their own devices.
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Melissa, thank you. And thanks for a good prompt <3
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Again, the music connection – in this case a Johnny Cash song I love – prompted me to read your poem – well done! :-)
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Christian, I’m glad I’m giving you reasons to read me ;) Thanks!
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Fantastic the way you cobtrasted the privileged against the poor
Thanks for dropping by my blog, Lisa
🎇much love
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Gillena, thank you very much. It’s complicated and all knotted up but bits and pieces can be teased apart. You are very welcome <3
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