Is this poem truth, or consequences?

Who sprinkled shrimp with moon dust, so they glow under a star-spangled

big top like circus stars glittering with sequins,

causing big-trawler skimmers to go oooh and aaah

as shrimp tumble onto the high wire nets spread below,

delivering their bodies to Antoinne's, on Boubon Street,

outfitted with immaculately prepared price...

Dust gone to rust color of etouffee.

Etouffee into mouths of tourists who oooh and aaah

this delirium of Barnum and Bailey.

Which ringmaster switched the lights off,

leaving the menagerie

alone.