I wrote this about a year ago in response to a situation similar to this one.

*   *   *   *

from the opposite wall

i saw her sitting
spice blues watching him gavotte

softly
not the hard hard gaiety of the others
who had taken a turn with this master of the hall
seeing through the illusion
but content for one night to be the lovely assistant

does she really expect full measure
from this empty vessel
hers the rod
to draw water from this stone

i have no mandrake's cloak
but this is the problem is it not
to be tamed i must first be a beast
it puffs the breast of the tamer
hikes the price of admission
builds the suspense onstage

my arms might be more enduring
but in a fang-baring contest i would lose
how boring
so i endure her sitting
spice blues watching him gavotte

  - O Ceallaigh

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