But I was always too late

The circus rolled through town, and I thought they were awry,
and I tried to shut them down, for I had better rings in mind,
the Hawker hawked me, the clowns just clowned,
the Bearded Lady bopped me, and the Strong Man held me down,
all the freaks were laughing, and I wanted to laugh too,
the crowd just stood there paralyzed, thinking it a zoo,
though blood was shed, though prayers were said,
the panic still ensued; while water coolers boiled over,
the dolphins escaped real neat, they flimmed their flam,
they thanked their m'am, and swam or flew so fleet,
a child stayed in the aftermath, and saw what deeds were done,
they rubbed their eyes for all the ash, and then they cleared the lawn,
a King swam down upon the sky, to poll the silly kid,
"what say you boy, how murderous, the things that they all did?"
"why no sir, please" begged the boy, with dust still in his eyes,
"I'm sure they deserved just what they got, though I know not where and why,
"But I'm confident I loved them all, though we had no chance to say goodbye,
"The only tragedy I think I thought I found, kept me here where I belong,
"Down against the ground, here where cover is found, so do not apologize."
The King changed then, into a crown, of constant shape and mass,
and gave the child himself to wear to imagine and live in the world again,
so come all things which come to pass a world unto itself aghast,
how rebounded all our doubts what future brings, what past is past,
apologies seem needed hence but weepingly prevented again,
by the little voice that will not rest until it's given what we've gained.