it's a circus and we all paid to be here by Jada Leung (16, California)

and here you are, walking on your tightrope
asking yourself why there isn’t a net; the
higher you are 
the quieter the audience— 
and so you keep walking 
               and we’ll keep clapping 
                              and dancing 
                                             ​and juggling around you
while you promise to stay in line 

---

               hold on! 
it’ll be over soon 
               we promise 
once the colors stop flashing 
and the band stops marching 
        ​and the elephants follow the line,
               once the act is done 
                       you’ll be free 
and with our costumes shed 
and our backs stiff 
               ​with spotlight, you’ll wonder if 
you can even get down 
when the curtain falls