Waltzing Mosquito

She steals in last of all
just as the lights of the concert hall grow dim
ushering in, between the rows of scarlet seats,
a panther of plush, dark silence

the mosquito hovers in the isle excitedly
her wings bask in the halo of bright stage-lights
the air begins to rumble with the bass

adagio, she flutters around the orchestra
moving in perfect step with Bach
as elegant as a ballerina
as stunning as a dragonfly

allegro, she waltzes and pirouettes like mad
swings as fast as the knuckles of the pianist
zig-zags in time with the bow of the cello
beats her wings like the drummer

the hall quivers with violins
her long legs tip-tap on music notes
scattered into the air like bright confetti

she steals the scene
the show is all hers
fame spreads before her like a peacock’s tail

she’s sold out in Vienna, Paris, Sydney, Shanghai…
‘Ladies and gentlemen please welcome onto the stage
the one and only Waltzing Mosquito!’
the world can’t get enough of her!

then silence again.
The hour has flown past like a swallow,
the concert is over
lights flood the hall

applause roars like a pack of lions
she swoops over the swooning crowd
bows low with her long nose…

and a pair of hands snap shut to catch her.