I've known a Heaven, like a Tent－1
To wrap its shining Yards－
Pluck up its stakes, and disappear－
Without the sound of Boards
Or Rip of Nail－Or Carpenter－
But just the miles of Stare－
That signalize a Show's Retreat－
In North America－
No Trace－no Figment of the Thing
That dazzled, Yesterday,
No Ring－no Marvel－
Men, and Feats－
Dissolved as utterly－
As Bird's far Navigation
Discloses just a Hue－
A plash of Oars, a Gaiety－
Then swallowed up, of View.
To wrap its shining Yards－
Pluck up its stakes, and disappear－
Without the sound of Boards
Or Rip of Nail－Or Carpenter－
But just the miles of Stare－
That signalize a Show's Retreat－
In North America－
No Trace－no Figment of the Thing
That dazzled, Yesterday,
No Ring－no Marvel－
Men, and Feats－
Dissolved as utterly－
As Bird's far Navigation
Discloses just a Hue－
A plash of Oars, a Gaiety－
Then swallowed up, of View.
(F.257/J.243)
[1] Heaven:: a canopy, covering.
[2–7] Yards, Retreat:: a description of circus tent.
[11] Ring, Marvel, Feats:: shows of circus.
Circus Life. After acting at night they retire to their tents to sleep, and the proper people take the circus-tent down, and start at once for the next place they are to appear at; the performers and their tent-men rise early in the morning, and start so as to reach the ground about eleven; they then rest and prepare, so as to be ready, after the people of the village have dined, to give their first performance; then they rest and refresh ready for their evening repetition. ─ Lands of the Slave and the Free (1857)