We Are Circus Animals

Austin Price, Editor in Chief

It’s unusual, this feeling 

This feeling of knowing somebody wants to see you

Wants to hear your voice

Wants to do nothing with you 

We spend our lives wearing complex masks and construed costumes 

We are not humans 

We are circus animals 

Designed to entertain and conditioned to perform 

The worst part of this mindless, artificial life 

Is our enthusiasm about it

Like a dog begging for a treat

We crave the reward of satisfaction

And the knowledge that we did something right 

And once we’ve done that thing right

We do it over and over again

Knowing victory is inevitable

And failure is impossible 

Sit, stay, beg

Sit in this choice 

Stay in the experience 

Beg for something new 

This impenetrable cycle of life shows us that we are no better than circus animals 

Despite the science of evolution, our primal desire remains 

We are no different than circus animals 

For we share the desire to be loved

The desire to be wanted

The desire to be needed

And the desire to be valued 

How can we satiate this desire? 

We satiate this desire by constantly offering something 

We offer our talents

Our victories,

Our minds,

And our hearts 

And what do we get in return? 

We get the fleeting spark of satisfaction knowing we did something right

Knowing we were useful 

Knowing we were appreciated 

We are no different than circus animals

Begging for a treat

While our lives are a performance

Ido not need to perform with you

When I’m with you

I can simply be

With no obligation to entertain

With you being you and me being me

Together we are enough 

Together we are not circus animals 

We are just us,

And us just being us

Is more than enough