Monday, July 29, 2013

The Artist

Mr. T.
     bareheaded
          in a soiled undershirt
his hair standing out
     on all sides
          stood on his toes
heels together
     arms gracefully
          for the moment
curled above his head.
     Then he whirled about
          bounded
into the air
     and with an entrechat
          perfectly achieved
completed the figure.
     My mother
          taken by surprise
where she sat
     in her invalid's chair
          was left speechless.
Bravo! she cried at last
     and clapped her hands.
          The man's wife
came from the kitchen:
     What goes on here? she said.
          But the show was over.

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by William Carlos Williams, 1954