Bread and Circuses

No elephants or tigers at the circus.
No death defying tamers with long whips.
When was it that the circus lost its purpose,
its maximus, the coarseness that equips
the spectator with calluses and ridges,
inuring to the brutal and the cruel?

Now gluten free, though lacking roads and bridges,
and just as well, look at the price of fuel,
we've missed the sly, insidious transition
that put us at the center of the stage,
perform as best you can in that position.
The safe, and barely noticeable cage
is really only there for your protection.

They'll let you out in time for the election.