some of us are born to great things
some of us flash a whip
then place our Brylcreemed
heads into a tiger's open mouth
our children watching from beyond the cage
watching as the tiger's tongue
feels it way around our ears then in between
our heads
we have not been able to convince
management
that this trick
both our heads in the tiger
deserves if not double then
time-and-a-half

we both talk at once
yabbering
waving our arm
then pace the beach
annoyed

what is the self
we say
what is one worker
or two?

some days we are dividual
some days in

the mind has many small rooms
sometimes it is a hotel:

in each room
a tiny mermaid lies singing

the sound goes in one ear
out three others
we were born to great things
this tiger
a single pair of shoes
the fears of many
resting on our shoulders

a whip cracks

a mermaid orders room service
our children blink their many eyes
clap their hundred hands
bite down on a single grape

you didn't hear it from me but
time to steal some towels
i say to myself

we're doing something fancy with a comb
and so i don't hear
instead bring the mermaid's cheese sandwich to the tiger
hold a chair in front of
a singing mermaid

time
and a half
she mouths