The Clown and the Chimney Sweep

The clown and chimney sweep sift through the wreckage of planes that crashed in the valley forest Few cans of tuna and a bottle of bourbon, at least the coffee will have flavor this morning Tambourines from a traveling circus, thump in the North near the cattle grazing The clown says "without my act I'm worthless and to tell the truth I've never been to New York" The ringmaster pours moonshine for the clown Beastmaster smokes, chastises the chimney sweep, riled the hounds Whistling shrill and off-key, the psychic's player piano and the tightrope walker sing Contract says "we'll only get you to Jersey" Ruby red in bowtie chugs, corn liquor and peppermint schnapps There's clementines and tangerines, smelling salts and guillotines With trap doors for us clowns to disappear, slippery and cleaving Circus tents or opera halls makeup drips when the lights go on The bleachers littered with kettle corn, handkerchiefs and troubadours Returning home to play their theremin in the evening to empty city streets