the shadow puppets line up
behind my eyes

the badger smoothly strolls
on two legs

the opossum moves
claws first

the raven hops
corner to corner

a place of childish whimsy
of jagged, jointed movement

      a stage of handless puppeteers

not so much a dream but
a backlit brain

setting up the stage
quickly

a dry run
                         curtains up

break a leg