A Beginning and an Ending by Bob MacKenzie Three knocks of the brass lion And the door hosts open; Battered conversations Heaved out the doorway Fall flat on silent stairs And die. "Hi. Sorry we're late." "He slept until eight." Tall, Almost handsome; Cute, Rather winsome: A matched team Joins the celebration. "Nonsense!" "Hey! Look who's here!" "Glad you made it, dear." "It's Frank and Sybil!" Manemass turn eyeballing: Crouching lion silence, Then roar the crowd once more. Gates clang shut Caging the roaring Conversation colosseum Thumbs down crowd. (Cry blood.) Enter the gladiators, In one hand the net The hazy smoke, In one hand the whip Wordlash vicious. Stiletto the room. published: Alberta Poetry Yearbook, 1974 |