08-11-2012, 12:44 AM
Inchingly he ventures out, the thin, taught wire before him lies.
Flinchingly he seeks to feel the steel between his practiced toes.
Peering forward, chin held high, eyes ahead, no glancing down.
Fearing only fear of failure, first a step and then a glide.
Weight in balance, pole now steady, he lifts then pauses in his stride.
Gusting winds around him party, nudging him with child’s game shoves
Trusting he will join in spirit, the airy sprites play blind man’s bluff.
Steady! Slowly! Hold and level! The pole becomes extended arms
Ready to correct his tilting, deftly damping out the sway;
And down below the crowded circle gasps and looks the other way.
Four steps now and stable progress seems to be within his grasp…
More determined by each footfall, the less, by stride, he hesitates.
Eyes below look up towards him, admiration warms his heart,
Sighs and gasps are his to conjure, his to order, his to control
They wait below for every tremble; he trips and slips just to enthral.
Ten yards out the wind is steady, all is constant all is calm
Then the updraught starts to vary, the pole he pulls into his chest
Fighting now to hold the level, stops and holds on swinging rope
Righting every tiny error, he musters all his will and dare,
But in the eyes of those who watch him a certain glee is hiding there.
Flinging far one foot for balance, out stretched his hands to test the pole
Clinging on to hooks of air he lurches left then lurches right.
Swaying wild, off blows his hat, see it tumble, spin and fall
Praying now for intervention, skill alone won’t end his plight
The crowd below falls quickly silent, eyes averted from the sight.
His pole becomes a useless burden, he lets his grip upon it fail
His soul likewise is held but loosely, but held it is and not released
Dropping down, a leg below him, he squats and perches on the rope
Stopping , by his altered balance, the lurching of the writhing line
The crowd below breathe out as one and mutter, “Hmm. Just like last time”
Tectak 1996-2011
Possibly better in Fun forum but only here as an exercise in odd rhyme schemes to tempt bill. Got it yet?
Flinchingly he seeks to feel the steel between his practiced toes.
Peering forward, chin held high, eyes ahead, no glancing down.
Fearing only fear of failure, first a step and then a glide.
Weight in balance, pole now steady, he lifts then pauses in his stride.
Gusting winds around him party, nudging him with child’s game shoves
Trusting he will join in spirit, the airy sprites play blind man’s bluff.
Steady! Slowly! Hold and level! The pole becomes extended arms
Ready to correct his tilting, deftly damping out the sway;
And down below the crowded circle gasps and looks the other way.
Four steps now and stable progress seems to be within his grasp…
More determined by each footfall, the less, by stride, he hesitates.
Eyes below look up towards him, admiration warms his heart,
Sighs and gasps are his to conjure, his to order, his to control
They wait below for every tremble; he trips and slips just to enthral.
Ten yards out the wind is steady, all is constant all is calm
Then the updraught starts to vary, the pole he pulls into his chest
Fighting now to hold the level, stops and holds on swinging rope
Righting every tiny error, he musters all his will and dare,
But in the eyes of those who watch him a certain glee is hiding there.
Flinging far one foot for balance, out stretched his hands to test the pole
Clinging on to hooks of air he lurches left then lurches right.
Swaying wild, off blows his hat, see it tumble, spin and fall
Praying now for intervention, skill alone won’t end his plight
The crowd below falls quickly silent, eyes averted from the sight.
His pole becomes a useless burden, he lets his grip upon it fail
His soul likewise is held but loosely, but held it is and not released
Dropping down, a leg below him, he squats and perches on the rope
Stopping , by his altered balance, the lurching of the writhing line
The crowd below breathe out as one and mutter, “Hmm. Just like last time”
Tectak 1996-2011
Possibly better in Fun forum but only here as an exercise in odd rhyme schemes to tempt bill. Got it yet?