Three distinct rings– love, hope, faith
we watch, suspend our fears in the future
as clowns cavort and lions roar. will it be enough
Some walk a tightrope as the world tilts and whirls
waiting for applause, we want joy and laughter
but some hang in mid-air hoping there’s a safety net
still waiting to be caught knowing we may plummet
Edgar Degas, “Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando,” [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Sarah is hosting dVerse tonight, and she has asked us to write a poem about the circus. I am not really a circus fan, but to make up for that, I wrote this cleave poem, which is three poems in one. And then I found this Degas painting.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I see a metaphor of life here… the acrobat and the constant risk of falling, but also the tantalizing joy of success
Exactly my intention, Björn. Thank you!
Oh, that’s a good cleave – all 3 variations work so well, and it’s a great metaphor for life.
Thank you very much, Sarah.
Nice line: “hoping there’s a safety net” I suspect we are all in a circus in our lives wanting that safety need, wondering if we’ll need it.
Thank you, Frank. Yes, I suspect that is so.
The metaphor I like is the artificiality of it, life as a circus act, with or without nets, is still unreal, smoke and mirrors all glitter, pure entertainment.
Thank you. I imagine some people think that it’s real. 🙂
They must do. Like Disneyworld.
Exactly.
🙂
so true so many hanging in mid-air waiting, hoping for the best and fearful for the dread. nice write
Thank you very much!
WOW! Just wow! I have a lifelong love of the circus (except the mistreatment of animals part), and also a love of poetry… That said, I never heard of a cleave poem, and looked it up after reading this bit of magnificence! WOW! You definitely nailed the challenge! ❤
Hi Rachel! It’s great to see you here. Thank you so much. I don’t know why, but I just had an urge to write a cleave poem with this prompt. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Very cleverly written – no matter which way I read there is a message.
Thank you so much! I’m so glad it worked. 🙂
Funny thing, as a child I was always kind of afraid of the circus. I don’t know if it was the clowns or my own fear of heights and watching the performances, but I never enjoyed it. That said, the message in your beautiful poem seemed to put me at ease, Merril. 🙂
Aww–thank you so much, Jill!
Egads! I’m hard put to write a poem, much less a cleave. You’ve done it beautifully, and covered the circus theme as well!
Awww—thank you so much, Beverly. That is very kind.
Oh, the fear of falling with everything crashing down is palpable, but so is the “three distinct rings” of love, hope, and faith. May it end with an applause or the safety net in case we fall.
It makes for a positive and hopeful reading either way.
-HA
Thank you so much for your close reading. I tend to point out the negative while still being an optimist. 🙂
This is great, any way I read it. Thinking much of what’s spit out at us might merit some “cleaveage” … posturing the spoken alongside probable under script … seems a useful tool … apply to any of the daily spouts from our so-called leaders. Writing has a way of clarifying, and your cleave approach entices and inspires. Better writing than dangling from a dome …
Thank you very much. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Yes, there is both a great deal of posturing and a great deal of subtext going on from the powers that be–along with some dogwhistles. 😉
I enjoyed this all three ways, Merril. It has me thinking of Washington.
Thank you, Ken. There is certainly a lot of tilting and whirring there!
That’s so beautiful and the companion image is so lovely.
Thank you very much, Holly!
Oh, it is my pleasure! So beautiful!
🙂
Cool poem! All three work nicely, I especially enjoyed reading the right hand column one.
Thank you so much! And also for letting me know which one appealed to you the most.
I love what you did with this prompt. The poem is magnificent. You have done a really nice write. It works so well. Is there a name for this kind of poetry?
Thank you so much, Dwight. What a kind remark! I call it a cleave poem–I’m not sure where the name comes from. I know of it from Jane Dougherty.
You are welcome. Interesting! I know Jane does some interesting poetic forms when she writes. Looks a little complicated, but you did it very well.
Jane used to do a weekly prompt with different forms. Thanks again! 🙂
A cleave poem is a bit of a juggling act and you’ve kept all the balls in the air with this one, Merril! The phase ‘as the world tilts and whirls’ made me quite dizzy.
Thank you very much, Kim. It makes me dizzy, too!
Beautifully constructed metaphor
Thank you, Derrick.
i have never read this type of poetry format, but it reads so fluently, in a few different directions, suspend our fears – wow that was a powerful statement, I suppose we can when we are confident we have safety nets below us.
Thank you so much for your comment. I’ve written a few cleave poems, and I just decided for some reason to try one for this prompt. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Yes, I suppose it is easier when you know there’s a safety net.
i did very much, i found it had a rhythm of its own
Thank you!
So very well done….three poems in one. Read the left side down alone. Read the right side down alone. Then read left to right, left to right, left to right down the page. Very very well done!
Thank you very much, Lillian! 🙂
I like the deeper meanings of your poem and the way the layout creates two poems within one.
Thank you so much!
I’m always so impressed by this form, and by those who brave them! It was such a good idea to start it the way you did, and then to carry the metaphor throughout of ways to go about living, on the edge like a daredevil. Well done. Standing ovation!
Aww–thank you so much! 🙂
The three parts are each a gem, but the sum is so much more..this is lovely Merril. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe.
A cleave poem seems like the most difficult of all the different structures I’ve seen you use. And you did it magnificently, like a tightrope dancer. (But, like you, there’s something about the circus that just doesn’t feel right to me – not my thing, I guess.)
Thank you very much, Pam. For some reason, for me, writing a cleave poem is less difficult than writing some types of formal poetry with strict meters and rhymes. Maybe it’s because I often have multiple thoughts going on in my head. 😆
Ah, never thought of that! 🙂
🙂
I love the format of this poem, Merrill. The upside down life.
Thank you very much!