publications2

Acrobat au Cirque du Soleil

I want to be a one-off,

my mould cut in two,

irreparable.

But I am one of many clones

and must dance, pirouette and back-flip

onto the pinnacle of a pyramid.

I smile and smile.

A star glints on a tooth

like an advert for fluoride.

I wave to the crowds below

then dive into the air

to be caught by a circle of hands.

They do not know I'm made of glass.

I'm surprised I do not break.

Inside my bell-jar a little girl is trapped.

 (Published in 'Glass Works' , Cat's Pyjamas Publications, 2005)