Step right up, take steady aim,
A practiced throw, a flickering flame.
The prize? A plunge, a gasping breath,
The sudden loss, the sweet unrest.
Your lips, a whisper, a coaxing sound,
Soft as a ripple, breaking the ground.
I’m steady, poised, in perfect form,
Aiming to raise the storm.
The waters churn, just a hint, a sign,
A teasing dance, a taut, thin line.
Each drop of rain, each thundering sigh,
A signal that I’m reaching high.
With each breath, the air grows thick,
The thrill of control, the rhythm slick.
A shiver runs through trembling skin,
As I guide you to the brink, within.
The crowd, they murmur, none can see,
The weight of this quiet, sweet decree.
But I feel it all, as you begin
To quiver, shake, and let me win.
One last step, the waters rise,
Your breath a flutter, heavy sighs.
I tilt my aim, a quiet grace,
And you, my prize, fall into place.
A splash, a gasp—delicate, loud,
A crown of liquid, sweet and proud.
The game is done, the stage is set,
But neither of us will soon forget.
And as you rise, the eyes avert,
A soft, red flush, a sweet dessert.
I stand, content, my work complete,
Your shame, my triumph—bitter-sweet.
In The Dunk Tank, the writer crafts an allegorical journey through a playful yet charged carnival game, where control and surrender dance in delicate balance. The piece unfolds with an almost hypnotic rhythm, as tension builds and the stakes rise, until the inevitable plunge into the unknown. Through layered metaphors and careful wordplay, the work navigates the line between dominance and submission, hinting at the potent forces at play beneath the surface of this seemingly innocent game. The closing moment lingers with a bittersweet satisfaction, leaving the reader to ponder what was truly won and lost in the course of the performance.
The B-side:
https://hellopoetry.com/poem/4981956/splash/