Big Finish

She wakes
And turns to the night stand
where, on the cobalt glaze of a teacup's belly,
the man in the laboratory coat tap dances.

He follows her everywhere now–
Smudge of face niggling
like the half-knowledge of an obligation
slipped to the periphery.

A flap of white, flash-reflection
off a black shoe
clang of shuffle-ball-change
shuff-full ball change. Full-ap. Full-ap.

          Muffled scrape of metal on varnish
          Dull tap of porcelain on an incisor

Her bare feet slap the floor.
The pine gives imperceptibly,
a nod of appreciation, silent
applause.

– ren powell

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