Damn everything but the circus!

...damn everything that is grim, dull,
motionless, unrisking, inward turning,
damn everything that won't get into the
circle, that won't enjoy, that won't throw
its heart into the tension, surprise, fear
and delight of the circus, the round
world, the full existence...

— e.e. cummings

"Damn it all, everything, but the circus!"
Wonder who said that.

Somebody told us what we wanted to be.
It was candy... for the mind.
Look behind and you'll see,
it was circusy.

It was Hi Diddle Diddle,
it was cat and the fiddle.
It was safe as can be,
it was right down the middle.

It was fantasy... fantasy galore!
It was everything we ever wanted.
It was that, and so much more.

Who was it that said,
"Damn it all!
Damn everything...
but the circus!"

— Ken Nordine