Miri

I took it to the curiosity shop
The one on the corner, gilded and gleaming with greed.
It sat on a shelf
Near a ladder of books with reptilian covers
And a candlestick.

The first time
I played my hurt
On a violin with one string
Slightly out of tune
Wringing out tears

My witchy feet
Beat a teasing tattoo
On deep drums of longing
Dancing under tables up trouser legs

String the ring of nooses
Through a pocket full of holes

Dare I let them out?
They knock, sometimes hammer….

When the earth tilts
And your ears pop
What will you do?

I wished I was littler
To be swept across thresholds
Of houses
And beds.

Ding dong
The cat struck one
And the clock shot out the door

See lightening birds leap and prance
In the glow of lantern spiders’ swinging lamps.

I want to move
through shoals of lit silver
over terraces rich in design.

Mum? Why do they spear whales? It looks like it hurts.
And why’s that boat spilling oil? The seals are getting sick.