The Residents Follow

Amusement parks are caked with sounds
A solid hunk of meat
A barker's sweat flings from his tongue
His tattoo shines with heat

A wary stranger stands and sways
Enraptured by his stance
Two-headed goats come stumbling by
And give a troubled glance

The barker looks into the eyes
The stranger tries to bend
The barker swears to more delights
For all who seek within

The stranger enters canvas doors
And smells the fresh cut hay
The barker points to Siamese twins
The stranger looks away

The eyes of horse-faced women
Watch the few who wander through
They sense the tension in the air
And smell the sweet taboo

A heart beats fast against a chest
The stranger leaves the tent
The waves of people drown the sounds
Of loss of innocence