Circus comes to town

Thick fur heat
opalescant, opaque
if stroked would
spark echoes of electricity.

Above tight and quiet
the big top's skin is near and heavy.

Soft edges cover
hard powerful muscles
big cats
crowd cloud grey
remember somewhere warm
on the gulf stream,
but, trapped here
in the miserable chill
of a circus ring
growl, fighting for room.

A flicker
whip snap of bright.
A sullen shoulder shifts,
eyes glare
a sheet of light.
and claws unsheathe.
Rain pours
sleek as a feline cheek.

Fire splits space
Pushed too far
a tail lashes
hail slashes
and then retreats

The storm is tamed:
you can hear it purring
over the hill.

On the tarmac hollows
paw prints
dry in the sun.