A lost sideshow carney
With thick, matted strands of obsidian hair
China white skin
Fixed inlaid coal-colored eyes
Leathery layers of cooked skin
Join the sleeves and neckline
Of an over-stretched soiled t-shirt
Like a lizard awaiting the shedding of its coat
Blowing gasoline through
Yellow, jumbled teeth
Past red plum pulp lips
To join the flame between her fingers
Like a rabid beast
The kindle turns
With fiery claws
Taking hold of her soul
The hunger of the fire
Fanned by deviant
Underbelly boardwalk gusts
Bursting through splintered pier planks
The blaze becomes wild
Devouring her blackened
Glowing sulfur head
And hallow stomach
Lighting up more
Like an over-fueled
Gas lantern
At dusk
Fixing her smile
Like a porcelain-faced doll
She knows that the show must go on
To survive
Between flares
Her radiance fades
As gratified onlookers
Fill her flickering tin
Louis Efron is a globally recognized writer and poet who has been featured in Forbes, Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, POETiCA REViEW, The Orchards Poetry Journal, Academy of the Heart and Mind, Literary Yard, New Reader Magazine and over 100 other national and global publications. He is also the author of five books.
