Between
         after Harryette Mullen

Between mice and madness
Between rivers and mattresses
Between coal and carpets
Between hotrods and Jello
Between moons and raspberries
Between ironing boards and caterpillars
Between toadstools and hairclips

Behind the green screen and the lightning
Behind the ledger and the dolls
Behind the figs and the drizzle,
the arbor and roses, the dredged canal
Behind the kites and sailors

Behind the dog park and the autobahn
Way beyond sarcasm and the mixed fruit salad
Beyond the opening act and the garage door,
the swizzle stick and the macaw
Beyond sliding glass doors,
turmeric and the coffee plantation
Far beyond the wallpaper and the cliff

But also near the ponies if they don’t move
and nearer still the mystery and sci-fi sections,
but never, ever near the Princess phone.

Cathy Barber