The Acrobat
Eloise Briton
Poised like a panther on a boughHe swings and leaps.His taut body flashes clear,And in a long blue arc cuts the hushed airTense as a cry.The keen, sharp wind of DeathBlows after like his shadow, and I feelA strange beast stir in me.I almost wishThat which I cannot think,A scream, a falling body ...A new thrill!But he shoots onward, arms outstretchedTo clutch at life as it speeds past.His hands grip vise-like;With a wrenchThat half uproots his fingers, he has caught,And airilyHe twists about the barAnd comes to rest.Sidewise he sits, and carelesslyHigh up among the winds,His taut bodyGrown lax and restful.He smiles—As a vain child, pleased with himself, he smiles,While our applause comes upLike incense.He breathes a moment deeply.Then again the supple form grows tense,All wire, all vibrant,Poised for one tingling breathBefore another flight.I watch himAnd a quick desire comes over meOf those slim hips,Those long! clean! slender limbsThat stand for health, and for the sheerKeen beauty of the body.I desire him.And I desire the spirit of the man,The bodily fearlessness,The reckless courage in a swaddled age.I desire him.How lithe and firm would be the childOf such a man....
Poised like a panther on a boughHe swings and leaps.His taut body flashes clear,And in a long blue arc cuts the hushed airTense as a cry.The keen, sharp wind of DeathBlows after like his shadow, and I feelA strange beast stir in me.I almost wishThat which I cannot think,A scream, a falling body ...A new thrill!But he shoots onward, arms outstretchedTo clutch at life as it speeds past.His hands grip vise-like;With a wrenchThat half uproots his fingers, he has caught,And airilyHe twists about the barAnd comes to rest.Sidewise he sits, and carelesslyHigh up among the winds,His taut bodyGrown lax and restful.He smiles—As a vain child, pleased with himself, he smiles,While our applause comes upLike incense.He breathes a moment deeply.Then again the supple form grows tense,All wire, all vibrant,Poised for one tingling breathBefore another flight.I watch himAnd a quick desire comes over meOf those slim hips,Those long! clean! slender limbsThat stand for health, and for the sheerKeen beauty of the body.I desire him.And I desire the spirit of the man,The bodily fearlessness,The reckless courage in a swaddled age.I desire him.How lithe and firm would be the childOf such a man....
Poised like a panther on a boughHe swings and leaps.His taut body flashes clear,And in a long blue arc cuts the hushed airTense as a cry.The keen, sharp wind of DeathBlows after like his shadow, and I feelA strange beast stir in me.I almost wishThat which I cannot think,A scream, a falling body ...A new thrill!
Poised like a panther on a bough
He swings and leaps.
His taut body flashes clear,
And in a long blue arc cuts the hushed air
Tense as a cry.
The keen, sharp wind of Death
Blows after like his shadow, and I feel
A strange beast stir in me.
I almost wish
That which I cannot think,
A scream, a falling body ...
A new thrill!
But he shoots onward, arms outstretchedTo clutch at life as it speeds past.His hands grip vise-like;With a wrenchThat half uproots his fingers, he has caught,And airilyHe twists about the barAnd comes to rest.
But he shoots onward, arms outstretched
To clutch at life as it speeds past.
His hands grip vise-like;
With a wrench
That half uproots his fingers, he has caught,
And airily
He twists about the bar
And comes to rest.
Sidewise he sits, and carelesslyHigh up among the winds,His taut bodyGrown lax and restful.He smiles—As a vain child, pleased with himself, he smiles,While our applause comes upLike incense.He breathes a moment deeply.Then again the supple form grows tense,All wire, all vibrant,Poised for one tingling breathBefore another flight.
Sidewise he sits, and carelessly
High up among the winds,
His taut body
Grown lax and restful.
He smiles—
As a vain child, pleased with himself, he smiles,
While our applause comes up
Like incense.
He breathes a moment deeply.
Then again the supple form grows tense,
All wire, all vibrant,
Poised for one tingling breath
Before another flight.
I watch himAnd a quick desire comes over meOf those slim hips,Those long! clean! slender limbsThat stand for health, and for the sheerKeen beauty of the body.I desire him.And I desire the spirit of the man,The bodily fearlessness,The reckless courage in a swaddled age.I desire him.How lithe and firm would be the childOf such a man....
I watch him
And a quick desire comes over me
Of those slim hips,
Those long! clean! slender limbs
That stand for health, and for the sheer
Keen beauty of the body.
I desire him.
And I desire the spirit of the man,
The bodily fearlessness,
The reckless courage in a swaddled age.
I desire him.
How lithe and firm would be the child
Of such a man....