My Cardboard Balcony

Mademoiselle by Belinda Roddie I hope to see her one day in a silver and purple skirt, dancing behind curtains drawn in a room where only the two of us sleep.

Night Walk Downtown by Belinda Roddie She holds my hand and checks her make-up in her compact mirror Her eyes grow wings that fold into each other like black velvet interspersed with stars The ones who pass by as we stand on the pier are wind-tousled and tossed like leaves on the aggressive summer wind that doesn't let up even for lovers Once the reflection is tucked away she lets her palm navigate to my back She likes where it curves below my belt I let her touch me there for as long as she likes

Every piece of me has been separated across all seven seas. If you wish to find all of me, you will need to search far and wide. You will need to fly, sail, swim, hike, crawl, and trek your way up mountains, through valleys, across rivers, and over cooling clouds. If you happen to find the key elements first, then perhaps the rest of me will be less reluctant to join them. It will take time, as well as patience, which I hope you have.

The Performance by Belinda Roddie the part of the show with the special effects will require all the actors to fly like insects when the fireworks burst and the screams become loud we will toss all the roses back into the crowd

Hop on the wagon, boys, and we'll go fishing until the sun sets. Keep your rods steady and your lines intact and your reels always a-spinning. We'll meet your sister when it's dark out and share a six pack by the cabin. Then before the mosquitoes bite, we'll slip into bed and do it all again tomorrow. Your sister has a better cast and a stronger grip than all of you combined. See if you can catch a larger trout than she does, but I'll bet my gold tooth that she can't be beat!