Now and then a puppet

The puppets dance stiffly across their stage
Pulling on their partners’ strings, kicking out their legs
Looking o’er their shoulders
Stepping out of rhyme
Wooden, fish-eyes mannequins
Falling down in line

The puppets dance stiffly across their stage
Pulling on their partners’ strings, kicking out their legs
Tottering and stumbling
Caught up in their strings
Dangling invisibly
Taking what Fate brings

Now and the a puppet forgets what he’s learned
Begins to dance in earnest, begins to spin and turn
Creates a poem of movement
A flowing wash of rhyme
Arms lifted skyward
Floating free of time

Now and the a puppet forgets what he’s learned
Begins to dance in earnest, begins to spin and turn
The others freeze and huddle
Waiting for the scream
The Master’s hand in anger
Cutting short the dream

Now and then a puppet casts off his strings
Begins to dance in earnest, lifts his voice and sings
Leaves the stage and Master
The audience behind
Dancing ever faster
A poem, ballet and rhyme