Patience

 On the green,

At Serpentine Road,

Bright tents sit squat.

Flags and bunting

flutter and flap.

I am abuzz;

Electric with impatience.

The circus! The circus!

Where to go?

What to do?

In an old faded tent,

In a quiet corner,

He is waiting.

Ears flick idly

Eyes half shut,

Methodically munching

A barrelful of apples,

He waits.

Laughing and breathless

I flit from tent to tent.

Stilts and jugglers,

Balloons and clowns,

Magic and musicians.

So much to see!

Feast your eyes!

So much to hear!

Feast your ears!

Oh! The smells and the tastes!
Mouthwatering and enticing.

I laugh and sing

And dance and spin.

Dizzy and giddy

And drunk with fun.

Longsuffering Spindleshanks sighs.

Still he waits,

Eats another apple,

And waits.

Now the music is too loud

The colours too bright.

Head throbs,

Eyes itch.

I seek a silent, shady spot;

A tent in the corner,

Lonely and faded,

Quiet and cool.

And that’s where I find him

Patiently waiting

Eating apples.