The Squat Fellow Spinning the Slinky Squirrel Cage

On one day, the same day, of every year,
I run into town to see and to hear,
To buy custard croissants and sweet lemonade
And watch the Halfbakery Circus Parade.

There are creatures and clowns in the oddest attires
Like orange-robed Harley Krishnas on copper-coated tires
Or orbital guppies, loud ventriloquist mimes
And even a hippo playing dodgy silent chimes.

But my favorite oddity, coming last but not least,
Even better than the tails for all, tail-selling beast,
Is the giant, glass, gear wheel with steps of gear teeth
That comes rolling down Main Street on wheels underneath.

Behind, propelling it forward, a stair-stepping gnome
With white whiskers, red nose and hat-covered dome.
As the squat fellow climbs the never ending stairs,
On the gear front there walk slinkies, not one but two pairs!

While one slinky slinks down like slinkies often do
And another on the inside through the glass you can view,
But a third one within and a fourth one without
Hang upside down swinging around and about.

You’d think that it’s magic or sleight of the eye
That an under-tooth slinky can gravity defy.
Neither Velcro nor Nitinol helps it descend
Electromagnets, my friend, grab each bending end.

The squirrel cage of slinkies makes the parade quite complete
As the Halfbakery Circus rolls off down the street,
And as long as I dream and as long as I think,
I’ll remember that nimble gnome’s wave and his wink.