The Burning Circus

By Mark Sheeky

Divided into three linked sections, Mark Sheeky's astonishing new collection takes us on a journey, via a 'fragile caravan of dreams', in which the passing scenery is seen as if through a distorting mirror; a journey whose twists, turns and destination are wholly unexpected. In images so tactile you half expect the greasepaint to come off on your fingers, this is language, from one of our finest poets, that dazzles without attempting to disguise the grit of sawdust beneath the sparkle. Fully illustrated with ink drawings, and featuring a foreword by former Cheshire Poet Laureate, John Lindley, The Burning Circus is a reflection of modern society seen through the lens of carnival characters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Sheeky
• Release date: Apr 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005169732

Mark Sheeky

Mark Sheeky (b. 1972) is an award winning artist and contemporary Renaissance Man; an oil painter, music composer, performance pianist, poet, author, broadcaster, and more. His childhood passion was computer game design and programming, composing music on software of his own design. In 2004 he began oil painting and decided shortly after to devote his life to art. Sheeky's primary output as a visual artist consists of highly crafted oil paintings of contemporary surrealism and his work forms part of the British National Art Collection. In 2014 Mark illustrated William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, and a year later his first novel, The Many Beautiful Worlds of Death, was published.

Book preview

The Burning Circus

by

Mark Sheeky

Pentangel Books

The Burning Circus

Written by Mark Sheeky.

Foreword by John Lindley.

With many thanks to Deborah Edgeley for proofreading, technical assistance in the realm of writing, and for endless support.

Illustrations and graphic design by Mark Sheeky.

1st edition e-book, published by Pentangel Books.

www.pentangel.co.uk

The ISBN of the printed edition is:

978-0-9571947-8-6

Copyright ©2020 by Mark Sheeky.

Mark Sheeky asserts his right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance to the Copyright, Designs and Patents act of 1988.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, duplicated, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means without explicit written permission from the publisher. Any person who performs any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and/or additional civil claims for damages.

To outsiders.

CONTENTS

Foreword by John Lindley

Part 1: Escape

Circus

Part 2: Parade

Clown Face

Mister and Mrs Knife Thrower

Lost at the Fair

Stilts

Bearded

Skin

Trapeze

Caravan

Juggler

Strongman

Human Cannonball

Fortune Teller

Highwire

Mermaid

Siamese Twin Domestic

Hall of Mirrors

Mr Memory

Candyfloss

Abalone Hall of Mirrors

Seer

Pierrot

Lion Tamer

Falling

Tetris

Actors

Dwarf

Unicycle

Catching the Bullet

Beetle Circus

Accident

Part 3: Prelude

The Television Has Stolen the Circus

The Burning

Prayer

Send in the Clowns

The Burning Circus

Review by John Lindley

Divided