Unpack The Carnival, The World's Gone Mad!

It’s that time of year again
when Carter’s Steam Fair rolls on in
back from who knows where?

the dark side of the balloon
i like to tell my son
but he asks more questions
than i’d care to answer

and he doesn’t really exist at all
he’s merely here to fill some space

“parked” , encamped
as covered wagons 
way out West
you can’t really miss them 
with their vintage red and gold livery
glinting in the morning sun

i’m sure they weren’t here yesterday?
although, i may have glimpsed a poster?
all red and yellow in the coffee shop
whilst i slurped on my flat white
and spied on every 
random Church Street weaver

i take a stroll around the back 
of one of the larger 
more important looking tents
it’s where i sometimes like to walk Frank
my imaginary dog

a half dressed clown is shaving
another sucks on a Super King
in baggy pants and bracers
and just for a second
the magic is broken…..

The Wall of Death will be resurrected
ghost train mummys all unbound
the coconuts will not be shy
and the Dodgems will be found

round and round blurred lyrics jog
and the musical butcher
plays trombone for my dog?

time to unpack the carnival
the world’s gone mad!