the last in the line

and falters she does, the clumsy ballerina topples - lands on her face with an audience slightly taken aback when money was paid to see the finest. alone by the cafe, a stranger to all in a little town: the outcast stares at her with a glare; then salutes to the captain who is now strolling in with a silver cane. a hard stern faced man, disciplined all his life, decides to let go: steam hisses out, a bends the iron cane till it could stand no more then found that silver still won the day with worn out legs beginning to cave, the molten iron reshaped to become a thinking hat quite cool on his head; and yet the heaviness shrunk that height so he was quite soon somewhat a miniature. hello there the woman whose appearance seemed familiar decided to take at chance, wondering if here was a kindred who understood who lost in the glamor. he grunted twice, having known that dance anywhere, even when quite kept out of sight. bowed deeply and seemed chastened for he knew not how to respond to this inquiry. the uncouth youth bellowed; glared down severely on the impertinent damsel. that's my captain! she knew not what all the fuss was about having had a bad day, decided to go bonkers. threw down the gautlet and took aim at his face, soon to be riddled and peppered alike. a silver cane fell from high, having no more use with a man no longer able to use it well. a lost purpose. though a sullied youth with foggy memory saw a thing of beauty: took it, luck took a swing. became mayor, then governor though the aggressive lady had long gone out of sight. and thoughts. found her wandering the paris streets eager to make a buck or two. her legs not what they used to be. a thinking man found himself lost without his hat gone some time during a brawl, knew not how to think, so drunk himself to oblivion. seemed the smart thing to do. then the night shone a heavy glare, the kind you see just before a dream fades. it's wake up time. the curious change of cards once again; deformed legs made whole by an inventive iron will - forged to perfection, then she danced again in the moonlight; a governor fell from high when a drunkard said: that's mine. and it was. repurposed. silver cane rekindled a lost love; so the last in the line r e a c h e d bore weight. changed the appearances, bore meaning. changed the dynamics, bore life. changed the last laugh.