The Reclining Magician

Behold! The Reclining Magician!

who lays upon his divan

involved this very hour

in a prestidigitation befitting

the greatest of the wizards

sans smoke sans audience

full of gasps and amazements

yelled or spoken under the breath

in a shock so as to make

their jaws drop suddenly

their breathing stops

with one great inhale of regard

knowing full well or even half well

what has just been seen

that exceeds

no

tops anything

seen before this day

including births and deaths

the topplings of great buildings

the shaking of the universe

the galaxies stunned

their starry pates exploded

clustered brains of primordial goo

having plopped

upon a heavenly ground

waiting for the exhale

that fails to explode for endless time

Yea

the invisible audience tumbles

from their floor-bolted seats

upon the sugared floor

gum-stuck fingers

dragging the seats with them

row upon row falling

toward the mystical stage

in bone-crunching silence

The Reclining Magician

puts down his book of spells

tosses his finger-worn implement

an ink-filled wand

of universe-founding creations

as sweat-beaded hands

reach for a damp

wilted towel

and

and

and

blows his nose

Barry G. Wick