Alakazam

by Sidney Bending, Margaret Rutley, and Michael Dylan Welch

First published in Haiku Canada Review 17:2, October 2023, page 68. Originally written from October 2020 to February 2023. Margaret passed away before the three of us could finish this rengay together.

magic show

the trap door opens

at the right time Sidney

hocus pocus . . .

the purple silk scarf turns green Margaret

in a puff of smoke

a white rabbit

twitches its nose Michael

a red ace of spades

up a puffy sleeve Sidney

dimly lit stage—

a shill planted

in the crowd Michael and Sidney

for abracadabra

my fake French accent Michael