Watch me pull my tricks up on this stage,
come watch The Magician-
the Lady King of
illusions.

I pull ribbons from my eyes,
I cut myself in half,
I can make wine pour from my ears
and find jewels in the backs of lion's throats
with my bare hands;
my spine is flexible as
an archer's bow.

My contortions crack my joints,
the tightrope has gone
slack,
I will swallow my fire
with a chaser of fresh squeezed
lemonade.

My soul is more wrinkled than
fingers on a washday,
my mouth is savaged and raw with
sour words.

I can hide my breaking voice in this
silk hat,
there is a white rabbit
sleeping beneath my
tongue.

I do hope you find my tricks
amusing;
for the show must
go on.