Gravity & Levity

Pain relief from circles

Held above,
she spins around him.
Screaming grimmest stretch
only to please,
held through bone and raw tetrex,
oh battered pelvis
pushed to warp hanging harness.

Sat below,
he graces shingle bench lightly.
Swivel knot ties
sand in bags weighed corners
soft trainers
and note taking moments.

Muscle release
as body taught rope
the mysteries she circles
afloat in time
and repeatable ‘onetime’
repeatable “looking for feet in hip”
he says observing knees bent at 90,
he replies “don’t force it right?”

The sequence baffles
wide eyes and chewing gums;
it will seem to be all right,
as her strength is so admirable.
She smiles
and stands above him then
allows herself back,
her still-ness is almost shocking
managing her rotation
change sides in vain
to salvage pain relief from circles.

(Go) the button is pressed
and the torment continues again
in the voice
and grain of sound
and circles.
Release ropes of control
and organise the flow
running around us
finding pain relief from circles.

When ovals occur
“I’m just not (f*ing) interested!”

Written about Lindsey Butcher during a Charles Linehan rehearsal for Gravity & Levity’s production ‘Shift’ held at Surrey University, Guildford. Jan '08.