You stand
in the lion’s mouth
like an X
come alive from an alphabet
or a
chromosome.
Your feet
stand firmly
on its roaring
tongue
you tread it down
as your hands uplift
the frightful jaws
the ferocious teeth.
You smile
and look very sweet.
A perfect
little girl
happy with herself.
You made
this lion yourself
(and so are not afraid of it)
you shaped
and fired it
Its gaudy colours
delighted with themselves.
And now
you stand here
real as
a photograph
placed between
such teeth
hold time
at bay
a little girl
in the big lion’s mouth.`
Dónall Dempsey
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/in-the-big-lion-s-mouth-for-scarlett/
