circus

functioning atop tightropes
jumping through hoops ablaze with fire
leaping from horse to horse
in surrealistic somersaults
leaving one trapeze behind for another
liquid in air
ears red with passion
loins lose
hands calloused with the thrill
never believing the string will end
never the thought of the miss
then
the foot not square to rope or balance ready
the blistering hoops of heat
the reality of only half a flip
the shying horse, tired of circling
the glance down to the net
feeling the slip in the mind
seeing for the first time
the clown beneath the makeup