Circus Dragonfly

Giddy one, why do I always
Look for you in stillness?

You’re forever tackling,
A trapeze artiste in mid flight
Between the pull of two swings,
Leap on to the faraway one,

a mass of colours, you twirl
to a dancing place, steady

to pirouette, bow then leap 
in a moment’s kaleidoscope

To plunge into red and white 
Shadows of your circus top.

Light streamer of its turret
You lure out infant rays,

Scatter a pollen shower 
To secure their trust as

They make an unbound clasp,
Stretch to your gold trey arc.

Tightly held by you, they fly
Circles, hoops and wonders.

You land on the earth’s step,
Align your tail with your head,

Fold four wings about your body,
The quiet I think is you, the aftermath

Of applause to the giant sound
Of those wings in their first flight.