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Sunday 19 January 2014

Balancing


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Power pole, Banciao, Taiwan: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 18 October 2013



Your cane serves as a lever that allows you to stand up on the bus
You hobble a few steps down the aisle
Embarrassed
Swaying
Grasping the seat backs
The overhead strap
Unsteady
I wrote a letter to my love and on the way I dropped it

One of you has picked it up and put it in your pocket
It’s not you, it’s not you, it’s not you…
Someone taps you on the back
It's your stop
You lurch toward the exit 
Unsteady
Start to slip
And at the last moment catch yourself before falling




Scaffolding, Taipei: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 4 January 2014
 


Construction scaffold, Taipei
: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 6 July 2009



Electrical sign installation, Tianmu, Taipei: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 8 October 2012
 

Welders' ladders, Taipei: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 16 April 2012
 

Ladders, fashion display, Taipei: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 11 April 2012
 

Painter's ladder with green mirrors, Taipei: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 2 October 2011
 

Window ladder, Taiwan: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 28 April 2009
 

Cheerleader balancing, Taipei: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 24 July 2011
 

Window cleaner: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 17 December 2010
 

Self-made glider (2/4): Ascent. Taiwan Birdman Competition, Luzhou: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 23 September 2012
 

Self-made glider (3/4): Descent. Taiwan Birdman Competition, Luzhou: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 23 September 2012
 

Construction workers with sand bags, Taipei: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 6 May 2010
 

Spoonfed alley cat on wall, Taipei: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 26 June 2013
 

Firetruck ladder, Taipei: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 10 February 2012
 

Handstand, Taipei: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 24 July 2011
 

Bowling mirror, Fukuoka, Japan: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 27 August 2007


Rooftop dog, Taiwan
: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 4 January 2009



Rooftop dog, Guatemala
: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 2003, posted 23 March 2010


 
Under stands, Eugene, Oregon
: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 18 July 2010


Construction, Taipei: photo by Aaron Aardvark is... (AntEater Theater), 31 May 2009

6 comments:

ACravan said...

I love what you do with other writers' work, but especially the things you do with your own. This balance/off-balance piece radiates grace under pressure, one of the best qualities. Curtis

TC said...

Well, Curtis, if there's any physical act at which I can say I get a lot of practise, now in these Sepia Pond years, it's falling down.

This young fellow has no idea what may lie in store...

ACravan said...

The YouTube description "StuntFrenchman" is really, really great. As Lou Reed sang, "between thought and expression lies a lifetime," or something like that. Curtis

Poet Red Shuttleworth said...

One slip and our lives.... All the athletic injuries we once scoffed at come back at us to.... Well, yes, the temptation then... to whack others with a cane. Resisting temptation we arrive home to explain to the hound how "fifty years ago I...."

Robb said...

Tom, you keep doing it and doing it and doing it well. Bravo.

tpw said...

Beautiful poem, great illustrations. But notice they don't show the Frenchman getting back off the chair.