Cirque de marriage counselling

Caged sentences strain against bars that squeal and bend
rattling wedlock rusted with words walking high rope in
balanced, measured steps, over sawdust stained in naive
utterances, spilt reminders to careless clowns, painting
harsh ha ha's that elephants and lovers never forget.

As the 24 carat ringmaster, circles agape at trapeze exchanges
deft and sure, flying back and forth in repeated patterns, above
the safety net of daily rituals, learnt by heart. But the tiger prowls
scratching at stains with professional claws, worrying them
raw, eager to pick over bones of past mistakes cast from
lips greased in spotlighted drama.

Words tumble in acrobatic duets, fast and furious, jumping knives,
swinging sentences tremble over tattered nets mauled and mulled
by prancing horses, neighing and whinnying that they know best. Careful choreography misplaced by free fall phrases, and double acts
intricately balanced through years of practice laid to rest, in favour
of trendy turns, until there is nothing left but choking sawdust, kicked
up by tear-smudged clowns goaded into picking locks, releasing
lions that cant be tamed, ripping through canvas years, and the big
top deflates.