Clicking and clattering
the marionette plays
its frozen smile.
a taunt or a jeer
joints crackling
painted eyes painted thoughts
scurry with a hiss,
eluding
or
is it
seeing without being seen?
a prisoned soul, a planned dance
taking the chance
to sing the song
of
crooked taps
timed snaps
a hummed tune
until the dust falls.
jade loses jade
a cocoon of the forgotten days
along with the dusty smell of old cloves
all tied up in string