sparrows atop the tent poles
and tigers on two-foot stools,
is the acrobat.
Not bird, nor magician,
she starts in sawdust,
but circuses have ladders.
Every act involves a first time
and a thousandth.
Smell the blood and popcorn;
believe it matters what you do--
the merest sparrow is one part angel;
women and tigers...two.
_____
Exactly sixty words for Mama Zen's "Words Count."
Image: "Circus Girl Smokes While Rehearsing Her Stunts", Nina Leen 1949.
The picture made me think of the film Wings Of Desire ("Der Himmel Uber Berlin") in which two angels wander post-war Berlin. One of them falls in love with a circus trapeze artist, and wishes to become mortal so that they can be together. Because of copyright restrictions, I can't post the trailer on the blog, and so I provide a link HERE. It will open in a new window, so you don't have to leave this page in order to view it.
You and Mama Zen sucked me in. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteI am a strong believer that all the angels are inside ourselves, and this poem dangles the ideas of salvation and attachment, purpose and serendipity, like the pictured girl dangles from that wire, to amuse the masses, to show what she can do, to face the fear of falling and fly instead. Love this one, Shay.
ReplyDeletea concise gem! You are rolling now...
ReplyDeleteWarm ALOHA,
ComfortSpiral
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_('')
LOVE those closing lines!
ReplyDeleteThe words here are so stirring - I may have to check out that movie!
ReplyDeleteYou worked the circus too? Me too! Great, concise, colorful and self-congratulatory. In a word, perfect!
ReplyDeleteI hardly know where to start. I adore the way you break the line between the first and second stanza. And, "believe it matters what you do." That just broke my heart.
ReplyDelete"believe it matters what you do--
ReplyDeletethe merest sparrow is one part angel;
women and tigers...two."
Oh, I like that close!
Love the power of the woman and her link to tiger and blood and two parts angel sparrow. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteYour poem and the trailer mesh well ... awesome (as always.)
ReplyDeleteI watched this years ago... will watch this again. beautiful and intriguing - a movie one doesn't forget - I gasped so many times watching this film. Your poem is gorgeous - the visual description in the beginning and the heat twisting end... love it all.
ReplyDeleteLove this, especially the ending!!
ReplyDeletei've always wanted to join the circus and trapeez away...
ReplyDeleteDeeee-lightful. I want to eat cotton candy and cheer. Poetry's best without a net.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful end... But to say something other... these lines spoke to me:
ReplyDeleteEvery act involves a first time
and a thousandth.
Yes.
Wow, Shay-the blood and popcorn really got me!
ReplyDeleteYou gave us a show stopper~
I, too love these lines:
"Every act involves a first time
and a thousandth."
Take a bow, Shay
@>---------
I really like these sections:
ReplyDelete"Not bird, nor magician,
she starts in sawdust"
"Every act involves a first time
and a thousandth."
"Smell the blood and popcorn"
Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteHey Shay, you bring up both the danger and tedium--how they do it? How we do it? very cool. k.
ReplyDeletethis is so good ~
ReplyDelete"Smell the blood and popcorn
ReplyDeleteBelieve it matters what you do"
Beautiful.