(for all the fringe artists out there feeling a little beat-up)
acrobats
damn those goofy fools
and their rubber bones
who drag their wild weather
wherever they go
so ferociously flexible
so transcendental
so rude
acrobts are the leading cause of jungle gyms,
giggle-ism and restless leg syndrome
acrobats are like sugary snacks, they’ll ruin your dinner
evil playmates who eat birthday cake
all year long
worst of all, acrobats will steal your tv, so easily
and so completely, you won’t remember owning one
all acrobats wear bullet-proof jackets, just in case in snows
all acrobats wear ugly hats, except those who don’t
acrobats like to feed baby ducks on the grave site of
dee dee ramone, king of acrobats
acrobats make and trade the most horrible things:
chinese finger traps
left-handed puddle shovels
egyptian ice cream forks
poetry and totem poles
and worst of all, nun flavored gum
all acrobats have loose screws, which makes them rattle
like spare change in the dryer
some call it music, some call it inspired
songs that sound like lunatic finger-strumming rubberband lips
nobody like lunatic acrobat music, except those who do
and worst of all
we need to build a wall, to keep them contained
some kind of acrobat habitat
but what is it exactly
that makes them so dangerous to cardboard cutout society?
too quick with a joke? too fast on their feet? too many tricycles on flimsy highwires?
dancing on beach balls? running around thinking their own thoughts?
damn them! damn them all to kansas!
and how do we defeat them?
some call an exterminator
some scrape away the bad brainwaves with a hot coat hanger
some bang their heads on church bells
some cuss out the waiter and leave one percent tips
some get their yawn on and try to forget
some bury their heads in suburban homesteads and wallow in comfortable sorrow
but not me
i’ve got acrobats in my attic
and couldn’t be happier
posted for shay’s word garden word list
jalopy dreams 
I was grinning ear to ear the whole way through this. I especially love the first section, “giggle-ism,” “acrobats are like sugary snacks,” and the tv bit. Your poems make me very happy. I reread them across your various blogs all the time. Thank you for all the work you put into your art.
LikeLike
This is absolutely hilarious! I loved way too many lines to quote. What a great response, especially that killer ending. Fantastic.
LikeLike
Love your style, where inspiration takes you!
LikeLike
“acrobat habitat..” ! And worst of all they steal your tv! Those bastards. They deserve Kansas. This is a rough and tumble masterpiece, Phillip, full of vaults into the stratosphere by questionable lunatic finger-strumming-lipped clowns, and I smiled from beginning to end. I'm so glad to have all the acrobats in your head and your poetry back my friend. Thanks for cheering me up in my least favorite time of year, and may the coming year treat you right.
LikeLike
I love how your title embeds the message of the ending: “attic of the babbling acrobats.” I adore this piece. Phenomenal writing. Are Egyptian ice cream forks a thing? Must investigate.
LikeLike
Hilarious, from an obvious devotee of Fireblossom. Word witchery. Just great. Nun flavored chewing gum. Gah!
LikeLike
thank you sherry
LikeLike
thank you shay, so glad you enjoyed this!
LikeLike
thank you helen!
LikeLike
thanks joy, i've got acrobats on stand-by, whenever you need them. and here's hoping the next year treats all of us right… wouldn't that be a nice change =)
LikeLike
i think they are a real thing, if i remember right, they were invented in the 5th century bc, loosely bases off of grecian soup tongs… i think. happy new year pepper!
LikeLike
You have made a very sad addition to your poem. I had a friend die like that—ODing on heroin after getting clean, like Dee Dee did. But I do love the baby ducks.Happy New Year, Phillip. Take care of you.
LikeLike
it is a sad sorry, he had a tough life, but he also created a lot of awesome music, so i celebrate him. for all that he was. happy new year to you as well pepper
LikeLike