PICAROON CIRCUS

wandering into a sideshow for the sake of amusement
a stranger is lured by the call of a barker
to view an obscene attraction, and attracted is he
who spends all his tokens for moments of thrill and shock
to witness those "freaks" of some other world
behind the curtain purple and silken

yet he does not see that it's he who he's viewing

legless or three-legged
limbless or two-headed
or possessing a twin attached by skin
what a curious coincidence
both simpleton and beast can share
to know is to be, or to be what's forbidden

like to like we all collide
with a touch and go fashion
those we can't use, we abuse
or encage for obsession

look in the mirror what does it show?
another face, some other time?
distort or accept, it's yours for the asking

look passed the curtain what do you see?
another face not quite your own?
distort or accept, it's what you're becoming

like to like we all collide
with a touch and go fashion
those we can't use, we abuse
or encage for obsession

shrinking nervously, shoulders begin to shake
clamering along with chit chatting teeth
no matter much he aches, he'll be back for more
symbols of repulsion he'll view for one more dollar
or two, to evoke an emotional state

and when he's through, he'll wipe off his brow
and say, "I've had enough now,"
but he doesn't really mean it...

like to like we all become
to know is to be or to be forgotten