Buffo

I had wings the other day
With sparkly manik sewn on them
They were pink, gold, green, grey
And ginger for my spinal stem

Like Buffo the Great, the Master Clown*
I wore everything inside outside
So when my soul was beaten down
You could see my bladder all cried out

With poppy seeds the colour of beige
Hanging on my nerve-ends like false earrings
Heavy and strange they made me weigh
But still I made myself back-hand spring

The clown did not smile for me
Neither did I for him
But when she told me she was a lady
I cried and gave her my wings

- Shu -


* Nights at the Circus, Angela Carter