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