Cirkus

Night: her sable dome scattered with diamonds, Fused my dust from a light year, Squeezed me to her breast, sowed me with carbon, Strung my warp across time. Gave me each horse, sunrise and graveyard, Told me only I was her; Bid ne face the east closed me in questions Built the sky for my dawn Cleaned my feet of mud, followed the empty Zebra ride to the Cirkus, Past a painted cage, spoke to the paybox Glove which wrote on my tongue Pushed me down a slide to the arena, Megaphonium fanfare In his cloak of words strode the ringmaster Bid me join the parade "Worship!" cried the clown. "I'm a T.V. Making bandsmen go clockwork, See the slinky seal Cirkus policeman, Bareback ladies have fish." Strongmen by his feet, plate-spinning statesman, Accrobatically juggling Bids his tamers go quiet the tumblers Lest the mirror stop turning Elephants forgot, force-fed on stale chalk, Ate the floors of their cages. Strongmen lost their hair, paybox collapsed and Lions sharpened their teeth. Gloves raced round the ring, stallions stampeded Pandemonium seesaw I ran for the door, ringmaster shouted, "All the fun of the Cirkus!"