Prisoners at Freedom Park

 

the Sea Gull Troupe has traveled on

played our make-up mirror lake

four weeks to stand-up crowds

collected pay in Sunbeam bread

which piqued the ducks

into turning up

their curl of tail

children clapped to see air clowns

take Boulevard to Lilac in one flap

pose great of chest for Nikkon lens

fortissimo a rusty solo cry

sea birds boarded a coast-bound wind

away from stares of strangers seeing

what it is to lose the way

needing more than meets the landlocked eye.

--Nancy West, 1988