SANDY, THE DANCING BEAR



awakening

      early one morning

                                        on a freighter’s deck off Guatemala

     rapt upon, startled

                                                     above in suspense

   a sunrise in flames                                               a gigantic silver coin

 SOLAR                                      LUNAR

CALDER

constellates of
coathangers
                                   showerheads
                                              finny fish : feathers
                                                          red petals : black spiders
                                                                     leaves, vanes, amoeba
                                                                                cottonbolls bobbing
                                                                                        mondrian immobile
                                                                                                miro over the horizon


                        From the roll of wire slung over his shoulder,
                        He’d wield silhouettes from air with dextrous loops, tugs
.                       In Paris, Vulcan forges Black Venus, Josephine Baker,
                        snaky charmer, bopping sunflower with spool of Afro frizz,
                        lithe at slight touch of rough paws, a jigging gyre.
                        Lumbering bear sambas limber livewire.


Giant kid was Sandy, ringmaster, clown, sardonic grin.
Cirque Calder was five suitcases, figurines he’d mobilise:
Knife-throwers, sword swallowers, animal trainers, jugglers.
Not the dare, nor tricks, nor geewhizzery of flying trapezery,
But Big Top sweep of space., grace, gewgaws astral dancing,
Ursa arabesques in trance, volutions, trajects arcing.
O heavenly to suspend a sphere:
                  at rest, restless, no wiring.

                       November 19, 2002                                                                         Michael Small

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