The Circus comes! The Circus comes!
The Circus of No Walls!
Please ignore the shadows
In the shadows of our stalls.

Behold! Behold! Cinereal
Our fortunes all are hinged
Upon the flavorsome flames with which
Our Phoenix friend is seared.

Step right up! Try, you, and see
His Pyrrhic pyromancy
Here is the conceit for which we busk:
He’ll play with fire ’til he’s a blackened husk.

Why not? Cinereal has the stones
Of one who’s daily grilled to bones.
If flaming death’s his sobriquet
Why not become a bold briquette?

And thus! The Circus of No Walls
(Please ignore its lilting calls)
Is proud to on this night, imbue
Your carnival
with barbecue.

And thus! At Night’s approach
Your hearbeats all, he’ll cruelly poach
As his act appears Death-Defying –
but no. Oh no.
His act is lying.

Upon this have utmost reliance:
This Phoenix hates all Death Defiance.
He won’t live ’til ages hoary
He’s going out in a Blaze of Glory.

Foregoing stone! Foregoing tomb!
His beauty is one great KABOOM!
Flame whirls ’round in smoky coils
As he’s doused with your favorite oils.

THRILL! to his acrobatic ignited combat!
SCREAM! as he dodges flames from Dragon, Sprite, and Wombat!
CURSE! as the burning whirlwind quite narrowly misses
…and then it does.

Silence.

And something hisses.

And JUST before our brave young bird’s entirely consumed
The chefs rush forth with haste.
Ashes are hot for but so long;
They must not go to waste.

Come in! Come in! Come in and all!
(I coyly bat my lashes.)
Jocundate with barbecue
On fresh, fresh Phoenix ashes.

____

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