The Lion Tamer Turns Back
From behind the tent flaps
he watches fire blown from lips
ballooning in blazing orange
ladders sway dust rises clowns stumble
pathos in their eyes
as they totter around the ring
hooting and grinning the crowds distracted
he looks up at the swaying trapeze
look down at the absurd
his heart thumps he cracks his whip
with hands clenched tight he slowly turns
towards the feral scent of the big cats
as they flex their limbs pace from side to side
cower back flinching trained yet untamed
dazzled under the lights
he pauses stands quite still
as they extend their claws leaping on blocks
already scuffed and scarred
he turns back just one more time.