Friday, 2nd April, 2010 Ends and Means

 Ends and Means

A tower that's tumbled to the floor,
a painted horse un-rocked,
sizzle and spit of an unwatched fire,
an ormolu clock, long-stopped;
houselights as the credits roll,
the final brick in the wall,
the brushing away
of a handful of crumbs
that follows a farewell meal;
a whistle that blows
to close the game,
a flower that nods and falls;
the bottom line
and total sum,
to the winner
the loser's spoils;
the rising whine
of the sweet all-clear,
the encore and the bow,
a canvas signed,
a hope resigned
in the heart
of the here and now;
the balloon that pops,
the bomb that drops,
a trust that's shared
then broke;
a bubble burst,
a heart long cursed -
a hearse that concludes
the joke.