He lifts me
to reach the shelf
where the licorice
is hidden—
when the kitchen boy
turns his back
and I, legless,
on his hip
open the package,
feed him
ruby red strips
before dinner—
then he feeds me
behind
the costume car
Sometimes in the dark
I feed him
from my base,
he makes me shiver
in the heat
*
They bill us
together, she and I
by number of visitors—
when we’re filled
with stars and she wears
her finest half-dress
and tailors my trousers,
runs her hand
up the inseam
and pauses at the top
They don’t bring
their children
to see us
like this,
on these days
They know better
when we’re happy
one in the arms
of the other,
they can tell
she makes me
feel so much taller,
she makes me feel
like I could touch
the ceiling
of the world,
like we could
climb right out
through its blue top