Let's take stock
Stir the soup
Climb the mountain
It's quiet up here
No roaring
She giggles
Just so
She swings on the stars
Like playground bars
Look at me
I am peaking and troughing
I am below
Looking up madly
Scattered
Battered
Frayed and splattered
New lows expected at midday tomorrow
She sings
Beep beep beep
Four o’clock chimes
Its nocturnal omen
Over and over and over
We are all
Tricks and smiles
Coins and curtsies
Prayers pinned on walls
Likely to fall
Colour hidden
Smiles forbidden
Look at me I am flying
She squeals
The stars bend and bough
Sugar drips down
I catch spider in my hand
Her legs are soft
Her belly round
I wish we were a story
She says
Coming down
With a frown
I drop the spoon in the sink
It clatters
Batters
Rattles
Hatter
When I was little
I was not afraid
I broke the spine
Stirred the soup
Climbed the mountain
Plugged the roars
Now I am old
Looking up madly
Scattered
Battered
Frayed and splattered.
