the big carnival
Joseph Verrilli
and the rains came
the rains of ranchipur
and the chimes resounded
a ringing in the ears
and the parade got under way
the crazy little mardi gras
and i sat there smoking
pathetic as a political exile
and i watched the parade of bodies
hopping jumping and skipping along
and i averted my gaze
from the young and the restless
and it was like a soap opera
as if i was back in school again
and yeah it felt the same
watching everybody sappy and happy
and the carnival was in full swing
the big schoolyard carnival
and the girls were cute
going thru their bouncing rituals
and it was the old daze again
wondering how they could be so happy
and i wondered at loneliness
the way of the world for me back then
and it was as if i wasn't even there
in the schoolyard or classroom
and it was more of the same
in other little life situations
and all of them were young
with their rosy cheeks and bouncing locks
and i wondered why girls existed
those bodies that made me feel foolish
and the parade got under way
and the big carnival the circus atmosphere
