Circus

Chasing through them all-

not by choice but sheer need-

rings, swings, cradles unsteady

An ease wrought in

by years of surviving

the death waiting around the corner

Going through them all-

days, years, a lifetime-

moments cast aside unlived

as if some molt unwanted

Going forth and forward

and further from now as if

were life's only worth

An acrobat, a trapezist

or just about any

in the circus of life

One has a net waiting

in case a step's missed

Other just need survive

falling prey to the mind

waiting to pounce

any moment that is

whiled away unconscious

No applause to finish.

Audience just as keen

as a fly on a mirror

admiring itself.