Wednesday, October 24, 2012

WHY I GAVE UP WRITING . . .

artwork: ralph murre


WHY I GAVE UP WRITING
AND JOINED THE CIRCUS
by Charles P. Ries

I left it all; the paper and pens, publishers
and agents who could not love my inner
fantasy and joined the circus.

The make-up, big nose and fancy pants
helped me overcome my feelings of
obscurity. I created an identity grander
than my literary art. I now have something
worth writing about.

I married the fat lady, she gave birth to
a midget; I learned to swallow swords,
made friends with a contortionist who
told me to turn my pens into pretzels,
and live like a real man.


~ first published in Rosebud