a clown

After the face was removed and stretched tight over the cast,
with the eye holes lined up over the finger holes, the nose cut back,
trimmed to a perfect flap
and stitched meticulously with #10 monofiliment,
a hybiscus, dripping with bees stuffed into the mouth;

the bright red swath of glistening muscle staring back,
pulled into a shape where fear and pain replace the peaceful countenance of an unsuspecting individual,
only hours earlier the slave to a 12 inch skillet
and a bustling kitchen of hungry mouthes;

Observed the shadow of a thin white plastic shell
decend into its place,
covering the fiberous tissue with such love
as requires the most exacting attention to detail;

The two holes lined up perfectly over the moist eyes.

© Jeff Thomas 2009