The Leap

The Leap

The trapeze artist
Soars out
Into star spangled space
Hands reaching
For her partner
to shape an arc of
Trusting exhilarated flight

Without a net,
A powerful accord
Lies in the space between
Where hands meet,
Grip and swing
Above the awe-struck crowd
As those hands have done
Night after night

Sure that this leap is right
We soar like that
Forgetting for one reckless moment
That we have never practiced
This intertwining of fates,
Don't yet possess
Timing, skill and Strength
For the upward swing

Sometimes
We learn the miraculous
Interchange of flight and
Trust
At high altitude

Sometimes
We swing out
First flight in glittering tights
To find the catch trap,
The trusted partner
Had other plans for the evening
and we dangle
By our ankles
Above the crowd.