You stand br in the lion’s mouth br br like an X br come alive from an alphabet br br or a br chromosome. br br Your feet br stand firmly br br on its roaring br tongue br br you tread it down br as your hands uplift br br the frightful jaws br the ferocious teeth. br br You smile br and look very sweet. br br A perfect br little girl br br happy with herself. br br You made br this lion yourself br br (and so are not afraid of it) br br you shaped br and fired it br br Its gaudy colours br delighted with themselves. br br And now br you stand here br br real as br a photograph br br placed between br such teeth br br hold time br at bay br br a little girl br in the big lion’s mouth.