Tsirk

By Thomas Page

I am student teaching a senior level class in Washington, DC. They have to write some poems on these prompts. I decided to try all 30 of them. However, I will not say what the prompt was but what it number was.

Prompt #16

People of the jury

Says the prosecutor holding her top hat

Now it is time for the last act

She puts her hand into the hat and pulls out a rabbit.

White as snow

Now, Rabbit

She says

Can you come to the witness stand?

 

It hops to the witness stand and takes its seat.

Can you tell me about that night with Lion?

There is a silence in the court room

Well,

It says,

I was minding my own business while doing my act

Getting pulled out of hats and all that

When Lion came over from the tamer’s circle

And tried to eat me.

 

Can you tell me what happened after that?

A breath and a slight turn

I pushed my way out its mouth

And the audience applauded.

 

Did they believe it was part of the show?

 

Yes, they did.

 

Did anyone know you were in danger?

 

No.

 

The prosecutor ended her questions

And let the defense attorney have the stand.

Now, Rabbit

He says

Did Lion really try to eat you?

 

Yes.

 

Are you sure? He’s just a big cat doing his job.

 

Yes, he was doing his job as well as trying to eat me.

 

Is that his fault?

 

Pardon?

 

Is that his fault?

 

We’re both trying to make a good show at the circus just like the knife jugglers and the acrobats,

 But they generally don’t eat each other.

 

Well, that’s just part of the circus life, you see?

 

I don’t. I didn’t sign up to be a lion tamer.

 

And he did not sign up to be a rabbit eater.

 

Who would even be that?

 

Silence.

The jury takes it all in as the defense attorney sits back down.

The rabbit walks slowly passed the accused’s bench

And back into the top hat.

The judge clears his throat

And proceeds with the trial.