The Acrobats
When they had finished all their tricks,
blindfolded- leaping, somersaulting, forming pyramids-
They crossed the stage in little jerky rushings,
bodies very pink across the footlights
bottoms prominent and shoulders held well forward,
legs detached and stiff, like those of dolls-
and again leaping, somersaulting; made more pyramids
and caught each other from great heights
and all blindfolded-
How we clapped them.
They took the call calmly,
placid and unsmiling like horrible pink dolls.
Suddenly I saw their bellies breathing fiercely.