The day was gray and cloudy,
as though to match
the forlorn stray bits of paper left from the night before.

The pegs were pulled from the ground
with ends of rope lying around,
And the big tent was brought down.

Awnings were retracted; the animals reacted;
the elephant sighed, the ponies pranced around
as the wagons were packed and the load tied down
They knew it was time to move along.

As the cars, trucks, vans and campers pulled away from the grounds
The elephant raised his trunk in a wave of 'so long'.
His ears flapped forward for they heard the sound
Of the children's laughter that still lingered in the air.
Had anyone looked they would have seen a tiny tear come down.
This was the scene the day the circus left town.