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Juggling Poems
by Robert Drake
"First Day"
It’s my first day,
A day at juggling school.
Don’t drop the ball.
That’s the only rule.
Balls and pins and hoops.
a thousand spinning things.
I will toss them all some day.
a thousand spinning dreams.
I’ll miss a few catches.
I’ll throw a couple too high.
My timing will fail, but
I’ll make them all fly.
The day has just begun.
Let’s get to the fun.
"Five"
I’m no gentleman juggler.
I went to the circus once.
I’ve never seen vaudeville, but
I’ve been juggling for months.
My eyes are real poor.
My fingers are slow.
I react like a cow
And yet I know the flow.
I throw up the first.
The second up next.
A third soon follows,
Only two more objects
I’m taxed to my max.
My mind is in a jive.
Should I break it now?
Do I dare juggle five?
Only one way to know.
I seek to learn more.
I’ll break my routine,
for I already know four.
Wish me good luck.
Or wish me good skill.
Either will work
Juggling’s a thrill.
Up the goes the ball.
Five arcs above me.
Will I catch them?
Well…
We’ll just have to see.
"Testament of a Klutz"
I can’t catch balls.
I can’t catch hoops.
Can’t even hold bean bags.
Just dropped the club.
Ooops.
I haven’t mastered juggling.
That’s the short version.
Haven’t managed to juggle once.
It’s a time consuming diversion.
I’d like to be good, but
like the ball I forgot,
It’s just out of reach
and can’t be caught.
How many times
have I heard the plop,
the crack, the smack
of another failed swap?
I work at this hobby.
It’s an enjoyable game,
but do I dare continue
and risk life and fame?
I will. I know I will.
I enjoy it indeed.
I’ll never be good,
but in my mind.
In my mind,
I succeed.
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