Once upon a time, I did not exist
in this frozen pose.  Only danced
in your dreams like a myth:
bear of elegant waltz and measured
fox-trot; bear of passionate tango
and manic jitterbug.  Now look at me.
Reduced to a muzzle and chain, serenaded
by a fool with a clumsy violin.  I refuse
to dance, cannot remember the basic steps.
Music of the forest stuck in my throat.