Fay Atherton
Juggling
The juggler came to the quayside
where some lingered wanting amusement
after the seals had gone.
He was unobtrusively dressed
but his box of gear intrigued them.
He made a tentative start
and some who had turned away
in the slant evening light came back,
thinking perhaps he might be worth a look.
If he was clever enough they'd take some pictures.
But no-one raised a camera, none of the children
spoke once he began.
What was that over the ruffled head
of the slight man on the quay?
It sprang from his hands and hung
in a trembling dizziness
against the far grey hills.
From out the flickering coils and fans of pearl,
tinted with colours like a peacock's tail,
came humming of soft chords as from a lute.
No-one could say what he created there
or how they felt when he looked them in the eyes,
turning to each, with the luminous whirling
steady above his head
and at his heels the slapping of the tide.
where some lingered wanting amusement
after the seals had gone.
He was unobtrusively dressed
but his box of gear intrigued them.
He made a tentative start
and some who had turned away
in the slant evening light came back,
thinking perhaps he might be worth a look.
If he was clever enough they'd take some pictures.
But no-one raised a camera, none of the children
spoke once he began.
What was that over the ruffled head
of the slight man on the quay?
It sprang from his hands and hung
in a trembling dizziness
against the far grey hills.
From out the flickering coils and fans of pearl,
tinted with colours like a peacock's tail,
came humming of soft chords as from a lute.
No-one could say what he created there
or how they felt when he looked them in the eyes,
turning to each, with the luminous whirling
steady above his head
and at his heels the slapping of the tide.
Page(s) 40
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