A prominent man was born here in eighteen ten

Not even fifteen minutes away from where I pen

Who, at sixty years, established his claim to fame 

Forever becoming etched in history with his name



... Enscribed upon practically every U.S. circus erected

As "The Greatest Show on Earth" came to be respected

The man, of course, was named Phineas Taylor Barnum

... Who later merged his show with Bailey's (no harm done)



For the strength of the following of each doubled with this step

Making an even greater collaboration with even more pep ...

And thus - establishing a reputation with a massive following

Which, to this day ... others have emulated by their borrowing



But, no matter how many others have come along in its wake

The name of P.T. Barnum will live forever in this here state ...

For Bethel is so proud of the man who was born in their town

A massive statue of him sits right in the middle of the round



Which residents there pass day after day after day after day

Stopping every once in a while to admire his feet of clay

And remembering the showman who brought alive the circus

Putting their town on the map for eternity with great purpose 

  

- Tristram



© Christopher W. Thomas

12:47pm Friday, Jan. 29th, 1999