“music box”

perfect miniature ballerina
slowly spins on cold metal
mechanically dances –
and stops without regards to
the all-encompassing beat
of the tinny fairy-tale whistle

when the light bulbs flicker to
dark
she leaps off her recycled-revolver stand
and, on the toes of her plastic ballet slippers,
she swirls with arms held aloft
over her synthetic hair-bun
whose ribbon has untied itself from neglect

perfect miniature ballerina
slowly spins on her recycled-revolver stand
but when the light bulbs flicker dark
she leaps and swirls
screaming
Oh