Glide Comes Before The Fall (title change, edit #1)

[ellajam]

Glide Comes Before The Fall edit #1 (Cidermaid, Brownlie, Grace, Wjames, John) edit 1.1 (PJS) edit 1.2 (ray)
(and a thank-you to Ray and milo for the NaPM prompt:
Topic 3: Ray would like to see a poem about the Circus, particularly concerning nostalgia, food or a terrible accident.)

So near the tight-pulled patchwork tarp
I climb up to my wooden perch;
the bubbleheads are packed below,
each cap confetti on the crowd.

I set my sights across the span;
with spine aligned and shoulders squared
I find my center, set a smile
and take off on my usual walk
with pole in hand, the wire taut.

A boy, whose mother thinks he's sweet,
gets itchy from the silent awe.
A glow of mischief sparks his eye,
he burrows round until he's found
the sharpened pencil in his pack
to prick his souvenir balloon.

The pop rings out, its sharp report
a bullet through the fragile spell.
A pause, a slide, a wobbled step,
I spread my wings but catch no air.




Original
Cause and Effect or Coincidence

The view is fine from this close space
so near the tight-pulled patchwork tarp;
the bubbleheads are packed below,
each hat confetti on the mass.

I set my sights across the span,
align my spine, my shoulders squared.
I find my center, set my smile
and take off on my usual walk
with pole in hand, the wire taut.

Each step is sure, while one small boy
whose mother thinks he is so sweet,
gets itchy from the silent awe.
A glow of mischief in his eye,
he burrows round until he's found
the sharpened pencil in his pack
to prick his souvenir balloon.

The pop rings out, it carries sharp,
a bullet through the magic spell.
A pause, a slide, a wobbled step,
I spread my wings but catch no air.